Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announced on Tuesday that the party has decided to delay the next phase of its march towards Islamabad. The leadership will stay in Multan until they hold a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Speaking at a press conference in Multan, Hafiz Naeem revealed that the prime minister had reached out to him, requesting the postponement of the march and extending an invitation for dialogue.
“We will certainly meet the prime minister,” Hafiz Naeem stated, adding that discussions would be scheduled once PM Shehbaz returns to Pakistan. Until then, the JI sit-in in Multan will persist, as the party remains steadfast in its protest movement. “No matter what happens, our movement will continue, and the sit-ins will not stop,” he emphasized.
The JI chief criticized the government’s relief measures as inadequate, reiterating the party’s demands for a reduction in fuel prices and the removal of the petroleum levy. He noted that JI had submitted multiple proposals to the government aimed at lowering petrol costs. However, officials have maintained that the levy cannot be reduced due to obligations under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.
In a significant development, Hafiz Naeem stated that the party would seek written guarantees from the government before deciding on the next steps. He also highlighted that several rounds of talks had taken place with federal ministers prior to the march, and that the nationwide protest campaign had exerted pressure on the government.
JI’s protest efforts have included sit-ins at 510 locations across Pakistan and a shutter-down strike, all targeting rising fuel prices and inflation. Hafiz Naeem clarified that the party’s agenda is not personal but focused on securing relief for citizens facing increasing living costs.
He reaffirmed that Jamaat-e-Islami would continue its campaign while simultaneously engaging in negotiations with the government.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) confirmed that PM Shehbaz Sharif spoke with Hafiz Naeemur Rehman by phone, urging him to postpone the Islamabad sit-in. The prime minister highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to provide relief on petroleum products for economically vulnerable and middle-income groups despite challenging circumstances.
PM Shehbaz assured that the government would continue striving to offer assistance to the public as much as possible. Hafiz Naeem welcomed the prime minister’s proposal and indicated that Jamaat-e-Islami was considering delaying the sit-in. Both leaders agreed to meet after the prime minister’s return from his trip to continue consultations on the issue.
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