JI sets Sept 10 deadline for petroleum levy withdrawal

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KARACHI: The political pressure on the government intensified on Tuesday as Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) set September 10 as a deadline for the withdrawal of the petroleum levy warning that failure to meet the demand could lead to a long march on Islamabad. Addressing a rally at the JI sit-in outside the Governor House, JI chief Hafiz Nae­e­m­­ur Rehman said the protest, which entered its 24th day, would continue alongside talks with the governm­ent. He said the party would give a “final call” on September 10 if its demands were not addressed. The JI leader said the party was currently holding sit-ins in 32 cities and would continue its campaign until its demands were met. His announcement came a day after the government increased petroleum pri­­­ces by Rs13 per litre. Hafiz Naeem stron­gly criticised the increase and questioned the government’s policy on fuel prices. Hafiz Naeem warns of a march on Islamabad if the demand is not met “The fluctuation in the global market is one thing, but there is no justification for the extortion tax,” he said. Hafiz Naeem said the government was collecting Rs85 per litre as petroleum levy while the total taxes on petrol amounted to around Rs130 per litre. He argued that the burden was particularly heavy on ordinary citizens, including students and motorcycle riders. He said a student or a motorcycle rider could end up paying thousands of rupees every month through fuel taxes while the same tax was charged on fuel used by owners of expensive vehicles. The JI chief accused the government of failing to pass on the benefits of lower international oil prices to consumers while increasing prices when global rates rose. He also criticised the PML-N, PPP and MQM-P. The government, he said, had been given three days by its committee to respond to the proposals put forward by JI. Hafiz Naeem warned that the party would not accept further delays. “Let the rulers hear: you will have to end the levy and the tax,” he said. “Otherwise, I will give the final call on September 10 for a march on Islamabad. The march would be launched with an aim of uprooting this cruel regime.” At the same time, the JI chief said the party would keep the door open for dialogue with the government. He also called on opposition parties to join the movement. The JI chief also announced a series of protests by women, including a “major demonstration” at the Governor House in Karachi on Wednesday (today) afternoon followed by rallies in Gujranwala and Islamabad. He also raised the issue of Pakistani citizens reportedly held hostage by Somali pirates and said their families had joined the Karachi sit-in. Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2026

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