JI to begin march from Karachi on Sunday against petroleum levy, says Hafiz Naeem

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman has announced that the party’s march against the petroleum levy will begin from Karachi on Sunday, as it steps up its campaign demanding an end to the levy..

Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Rehman said the government should abolish the levy instead of offering what he described as relief packages that failed to address the broader burden on consumers.

“People are finding it difficult to afford two meals a day, while the government is imposing such taxes,” he said.

Rehman said customs duty, climate support levy and petroleum levy together amounted to around Rs106-107 per litre, with additional charges and margins imposed by dealers, transporters, refineries and oil marketing companies.

Rehman also criticised the government over its monetary policy, saying a reduction in the policy rate would provide savings comparable to the amount collected through the levy.

He rejected the government’s position that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and dependence on banks prevented such measures, and questioned the independence of the State Bank of Pakistan.

The JI chief also criticised the government’s fuel relief package, saying its eligibility criteria would exclude many motorcycle users. He said the package would provide only Rs500 a week in relief to those who qualified.

JI has been leading protests across Pakistan since mid-August, demanding a reduction in the petroleum levy following substantial increases in petrol and diesel prices linked to energy supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict.

The government has imposed the petroleum levy as part of its commitments under ongoing loan programmes with the International Monetary Fund. Petrol currently carries Rs114 per litre in taxes, including a Rs80 per litre levy, while diesel carries Rs100 per litre in taxes and duties, including a Rs77.28 per litre levy. An additional Rs5 per litre climate support charge applies to both fuels.

Rehman said the government had again contacted the party for talks, but insisted that any government team should come with a concrete proposal to abolish the levy.

He said JI had already held several rounds of talks with the government and would not call off its march based only on verbal assurances.

Rehman said party leader Liaquat Baloch would lead the march if the government failed to provide a tangible proposal.

He criticised the government’s handling of food prices, sugar mills, independent power producers and capacity payments, calling for measures that would provide broader relief to the public.

‘Don’t know what PTI’s plan is’

Rehman said JI would proceed with its own plan and would reach Islamabad, while declining to comment on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) plans for protests.

“We do not know what PTI’s plan is. We have our own plan, and we will reach Islamabad,” he said.

He said JI was not in favour of placing containers to block protesters, adding that holding protests was everyone’s right.

Rehman said ending the Lahore sit-in after announcing the march was also part of JI’s strategy.

Commenting on remarks by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Rehman said her statements reflected a particular “mindset” and criticised the cost of official foreign visits.

“Now that all this has happened, Maryam Nawaz should sell the plane,” he said.

He also criticised what he described as a “royal” attitude among the ruling elite, saying the public was bearing the burden of expensive official travel.

On PTI’s planned protests, Rehman said the party had its own strategy while JI had its own, adding that JI would proceed according to its announced plan.