Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has called on the public to participate in the party’s protest scheduled for Friday in Islamabad, opposing the continuous rise in petroleum prices and inflation. He warned that if the government does not reverse the recent hikes, the party would escalate its agitation.
Rehman highlighted that the government failed to meet its tax revenue targets and consequently raised the petroleum levy to as much as Rs117 per litre to bridge the fiscal deficit. He criticized the government’s economic policies, describing them as a form of retaliation against the public for their incompetence.
He pointed out that petrol and diesel prices have surged to nearly Rs415 per litre, yet the prime minister remains reluctant to alleviate this burden on the people. Meanwhile, ministers have hinted at further increases, exacerbating the hardships faced by the public.
In response, Rehman urged citizens to take to the streets to protest these unjustified and ongoing fuel price hikes. He demanded that the government abolish the petroleum levy and provide immediate relief to the population.
Emphasizing the widespread impact of rising fuel costs, Rehman noted that inflation affects all sectors of the economy, and once prices of goods increase, they rarely decrease again. He stated that the upcoming protest would amplify the voices of people from across Pakistan.
In a significant development, Rehman warned that if the government fails to change its stance, JI will initiate a strike and organize a wheel-jam shutdown as part of the next phase of its campaign.
