Pakistan's JI Vows Continued Sit-In Until Petroleum Levy Abolished

Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) leader Hafiz Naeemur Rehman declared that the party's sit-in protest against the petroleum levy and rising fuel prices will persist until the government meets its demands. He warned that any attempt to disrupt the protest would escalate it into a movement to overthrow the government. Addressing participants outside the Punjab Chief Minister’s House, Rehman labeled the petroleum levy as "extortionist" and accused the government of simultaneously raising fuel prices and taxes.

“

Until the petroleum levy is abolished and our other demands are accepted, the sit-in will continue.

Rehman urged the government to reduce its own expenditures and privileges rather than extracting more money from citizens. "Until the petroleum levy is abolished and our other demands are accepted, the sit-in will continue," he stated. He directly addressed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, asserting that the JI would not travel to Islamabad for a briefing, but insisted that any negotiators should come to the sit-in site. The JI chief claimed that both the federal and Punjab provincial governments have failed, accusing the leadership of "destroying" the entire system.

“

If the government tries to obstruct it, this sit-in will turn into a movement to bring down the government.

The JI has initiated the second phase of its public rights campaign, following protests at 510 locations on August 7. Major sit-ins are now underway outside Governor Houses in Karachi and Peshawar, with a significant gathering on The Mall in Lahore. Rehman described the movement as an "organized struggle by a genuine public party" focused on combating injustice, inflation, and anti-people policies, rather than targeting any specific political party. He highlighted the difficulties faced by ordinary families struggling with school fees and healthcare access, and criticized the education system as class-based. The JI demands a reduction in petrol prices to Rs225 per liter and the complete abolition of the petroleum levy, rejecting the government's justification of the levy being tied to an IMF program.

“

Whoever wants to talk should come to the sit-in and talk to us.