Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman announced that his party will stage sit-ins at 510 locations across Pakistan to protest the petroleum levy. The demonstrations will include blocking major inter-district roads starting from 4pm on Friday as part of a peaceful campaign against soaring fuel prices and inflation.
Addressing a rally organized by the party’s women’s wing on Wahdat Road in Lahore, Rehman assured that ambulances would be allowed to pass freely during the protests. However, he cautioned that any attempts by authorities to disrupt the sit-ins could escalate the campaign into a broader movement opposing the government.
He demanded a reduction in petrol prices to Rs225 per litre, condemning the petroleum levy as a form of extortion rather than a legitimate tax. Rehman claimed the government imposes Rs125 in taxes on every litre of petrol sold, while simultaneously spending on luxury aircraft and expensive official vehicles for its own use. He further alleged that Rs8 trillion has been collected through the levy over time without any investment in upgrading refineries or petroleum infrastructure.
Highlighting global crude oil trends, he noted that fuel prices had been increased citing regional conflicts but have not decreased even after crude oil prices dropped to $74 per barrel. The JI leader warned that the government would be held accountable for any fallout if it fails to address public demands, arguing that removing the levy would benefit the economy.
Rehman accused the ruling coalition of being disconnected from the daily hardships faced by citizens. He emphasized that women across the country are struggling to manage household expenses amid inflation, with some forced to sell their jewelry to survive. He also criticized unequal access to education, an unresponsive bureaucracy, and increasing restrictions on public dissent, viewing these as signs of a broader governance crisis.
Additionally, he accused the government of following International Monetary Fund (IMF) directives and implementing what he described as an “anti-people” budget, instead of reducing its own expenditures. Calling for widespread participation, Rehman urged people from Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to join the sit-ins. He made a special appeal to young people to take part in the protests on motorcycles.
