Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Naeemur Rehman announced on Tuesday that the party will delay its long march towards Islamabad until October. This decision followed a request from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who urged the postponement and proposed discussions regarding the petroleum levy.
The announcement came after a telephone conversation between the JI leader and the prime minister, who is currently attending the United Nations General Assembly session in New York. Shehbaz Sharif expressed his willingness to engage in meaningful talks on the petroleum levy upon his return to Pakistan and indicated plans to introduce additional relief measures for the public.
The JI had initiated its protest march from Karachi on Sunday, opposing the petroleum levy and escalating fuel prices. The procession reached Multan on Tuesday after traveling by train through Sindh and southern Punjab.
Prior to the announcement, Hafiz Naeem stated that the party would consult its central Shura before responding to the prime minister’s appeal. He emphasized that the primary demand remains the complete withdrawal of the petroleum levy. He also clarified that postponing the march does not equate to relinquishing the party’s right to protest.
The original plan involved continuing the march by road from Multan to Lahore and then Islamabad. The movement had garnered support from caravans converging on the capital from various regions across the country.
Meanwhile, the Shalimar Express, which was transporting JI supporters from Sukkur to Multan, experienced a four-hour delay attributed by Pakistan Railways to an engine malfunction.
For approximately six weeks, the JI has campaigned against the petroleum levy, dismissing the government’s current relief measures as inadequate. The government, however, has reiterated its openness to dialogue with the party on this issue.
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