Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has asked Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman to postpone the party’s Islamabad march against the petroleum levy until he returns to Pakistan. The request came during a phone call on Tuesday as the JI train march reached Multan.
According to a JI spokesperson, the prime minister also offered to hold talks with the party over the petroleum levy after his return. Hafiz Naeem told Shehbaz that JI did not want a confrontation with the government or a law-and-order situation. However, he said the party would continue raising public concerns over fuel prices and the levy.
Hafiz Naeem to Consult JI Shura
Hafiz Naeem said he would consult the JI Shura before responding to the prime minister’s request. The Shura is the party’s central decision-making body.
He also made it clear that postponing the march, if agreed, would not mean ending JI’s right to protest. The party has been demanding relief for consumers and changes to the petroleum levy.
The latest contact follows several rounds of talks between the government and JI. Previous discussions focused on fuel prices, the petroleum levy and possible measures to reduce the financial burden on consumers. However, the talks did not lead to a final agreement.
JI March Reaches Multan
The JI train march started from Karachi on September 20 and is heading towards Islamabad. The procession reached Multan late Monday, where Hafiz Naeem addressed supporters at the railway station.
The JI chief repeated the party’s demand for the withdrawal of the petroleum levy and relief for consumers. He said the protest was aimed at highlighting the economic pressure faced by ordinary people, including higher costs of essential goods.
The march is expected to continue through southern Punjab before moving towards central Punjab and Islamabad. JI has also held protests and sit-ins in several Pakistani cities as part of its campaign against the petroleum levy and rising fuel costs.
The final decision on whether to postpone the Islamabad march now rests with JI leadership. Hafiz Naeem is expected to consult the party’s Shura before responding to the prime minister’s request. The government has offered further talks after Shehbaz Sharif returns to Pakistan.
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