LAHORE, Punjab: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announced a JI nationwide strike for September as the party intensified protests against the petroleum levy and rising inflation.
Speaking to reporters in Lahore, Hafiz Naeem said the strike would be observed on 13 Rabi-ul-Awwal and was planned for the first week of September. He said further details of the protest campaign would be announced later.
The JI chief said protest camps had already been established at different locations across Pakistan and warned that the party could stage road sit-ins if the federal government did not abolish the petroleum levy.
Hafiz Naeem said JI had launched the campaign to raise issues affecting ordinary people rather than pursue a personal political agenda.
He also criticised the federal government’s wheat policies, claiming exports had contributed to higher domestic prices. He questioned the accounting of wheat imported during the caretaker government’s tenure.
Read: Jamaat-e-Islami to Hold Protest Today at 4 PM in Karachi Over Election Rigging
The JI leader also questioned why consumers had not received greater relief after reductions in diesel prices and criticised continued collection of the petroleum levy.
Hafiz Naeem further accused the ruling elite of maintaining costly privileges. He cited alleged spending involving Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the Senate chairman.
 announced a JI nationwide strike for September as the party intensified protests against the petroleum levy and rising inflation.){kind=link}