LAHORE, Punjab: JI fuel protest leader Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Sunday warned of sit-ins in Rawalpindi and Islamabad if authorities blocked Jamaat-e-Islami’s planned rally at Liaquat Bagh.
The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) emir accused the administration of delaying permission for the Rawalpindi gathering. He said the party planned to proceed with its public meeting later on August 30 and meet representatives of the business community.
Meanwhile, JI’s campaign against the petroleum development levy and fuel prices entered its 15th consecutive day. The party launched sit-ins on August 16 and has staged protests in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and other cities.
JI has also called a nationwide shutdown strike for September 3. Hafiz Naeem announced the action last week and urged traders to join the protest against the petroleum levy and taxation.
Read: Jamaat-e-Islami Protests Planned at 510 Sites Across Pakistan
The JI chief also criticised electricity bills and taxes on salaried workers. He argued that the federal government should cut its own spending rather than increase pressure on households.
Read: Jamaat-e-Islami Protest Outside Sindh Assembly Met with Teargas, Baton Charge
The protests come after Pakistan changed its petroleum pricing system in July. The federal government authorised the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to determine and publish petroleum prices daily using international market benchmarks and other pricing components.
