Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) sustained its nationwide protests against the petroleum levy, escalating inflation, and inflated electricity bills for the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday. Since August 16, JI supporters have been holding sit-ins outside the Punjab Chief Minister’s House and governor’s residences in Karachi, Quetta, and Peshawar, urging authorities to control fuel prices and inflation.
Addressing the protesters in Lahore, JI senior leader Liaquat Baloch criticized the federal government’s performance over the past two years, stating that it has failed to address the economic challenges. He accused the ruling authorities of prioritizing their luxuries and protocol over public welfare.
Meanwhile, the sit-in in Lahore has led to the closure of both lanes of Mall Road, causing significant traffic disruptions and inconvenience for commuters.
In a recent update on Tuesday, the government increased petrol prices by Rs3.34, bringing the rate to Rs334.54 per litre. Similarly, the price of high-speed diesel (HSD) was raised by Rs5.27 to Rs395.69 per litre. The petroleum levy on HSD was also increased to Rs78.28 per litre, while the levy on petrol remained steady at Rs80 per litre.
JI Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman declared on Monday that these peaceful sit-ins across all four provinces represent the start of a broader protest movement. Speaking in Lahore, he vowed to intensify the demonstrations, highlighting that JI has formulated a strategic plan for the ongoing protests and expressed satisfaction with their nationwide turnout.
In Karachi, JI chapter Emir Monem Zafar Khan emphasized that their demands are straightforward: fuel prices must be reduced, and a forensic audit of independent power producers (IPPs) should be conducted. He stressed that combating inflation should be the government’s foremost priority and confirmed that the sit-ins will persist until their demands are met.
