JI stages sit-ins in major cities against petroleum levy, inflation and inflated bills

LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) staged sit-ins in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and other major cities on Monday for a second consecutive day, protesting against high petroleum levies, rising inflation and excessive electricity bills.

The protests marked the next phase of the religio-political party’s nationwide campaign, following demonstrations held at hundreds of locations earlier this month.

In the latest review on Thursday, the government increased the petroleum levy on diesel by Re1 to Rs77.28 per litre, while keeping the levy on petrol and kerosene unchanged at Rs80 and Rs20.36 per litre, respectively.

The JI has been criticising the petroleum levy and rising prices, arguing that increasing taxes and fuel costs are placing an additional burden on ordinary citizens already struggling with inflation.

Addressing participants at a sit-in in Lahore, JI Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman said peaceful protests across all four provinces marked the beginning of a wider protest movement.

He said the JI had devised a strategy for the sit-ins and would further intensify its campaign.

Naeem expressed satisfaction with the participation in protests across the country and said the party would continue its struggle until its demands were addressed.

In Karachi, a sit-in was held outside the Governor House, where JI Karachi women wing leader Javed Fahim criticised the government over petroleum levies and taxes.

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She said the rulers claimed that the country could not be run without imposing petroleum levies and taxes.

“The rulers have accepted their failure,” she said, demanding that they either step down or fulfil the protesters’ demands.

Fahim warned that the JI would stage sit-ins on roads across Karachi if its demands were not met.

Speaking to Geo News, JI Karachi Emir Monem Zafar Khan said the party’s demands were clear and that people were being burdened in the name of petroleum levies.

He demanded a reduction in fuel prices and called for a forensic audit of independent power producers (IPPs).

Zafar said tackling inflation should be the government’s top priority, adding that the JI would continue its sit-ins until its demands were fulfilled.