Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has begun its long march toward Islamabad on Sunday, September 20, as part of its ongoing campaign against the petroleum levy and high fuel prices in Pakistan. The party had announced the march after negotiations with the government failed to produce an agreement on its demand to withdraw the levy.
JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said the movement would bring supporters from different parts of the country toward the federal capital. The party says its main demand is the abolition of the petroleum levy, which it argues is adding to the financial pressure on ordinary citizens.
JI Long March Starts From Karachi
The first major phase of the JI long march began in Karachi, where party supporters are travelling toward Islamabad by train. According to The News, the train march is being led by Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, while other supporters from Karachi are travelling by buses and private vehicles.
The planned route includes Multan and Lahore before the protesters continue toward Islamabad. JI has also called on its workers and supporters in Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to join the movement.
The party has been holding protests and sit-ins in different cities for weeks. Its campaign has focused on fuel prices, the petroleum levy and what JI describes as the growing financial burden on households.
Government Talks Fail to Resolve Dispute
The long march follows several rounds of talks between the government and JI. The negotiations focused on the petroleum levy and measures to provide relief to the public, but the two sides failed to reach an agreement. JI subsequently confirmed that its Islamabad march would proceed.
Hafiz Naeem has maintained that the party wants the petroleum levy withdrawn rather than relying on temporary relief measures. In a September 18 press conference, he said the march would begin with caravans from different provinces and that the Karachi contingent would travel by train.
JI has also said that its protest will remain peaceful and that it does not intend to unnecessarily block roads. The party says it wants to ensure that people, including students appearing for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test, are not prevented from reaching their destinations.
What Happens Next?
The JI long march is expected to gather participants from different parts of Pakistan before reaching Islamabad. Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has said the main objective is to pressure the government over the petroleum levy and rising fuel costs.
The situation remains developing as the march moves toward the federal capital. Any new government response, negotiations, or changes to the protest schedule could determine the next phase of the JI campaign.
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