JI launches 'train march' towards Islamabad against petroleum levy

The Jamaat-i-Islami launched its protest march towards Islamabad on Sunday, with party Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman warning that if the government failed to abolish the petroleum levy, the JI’s protest could turn into one to oust the government.

Naeem was addressing JI supporters at Karachi’s Cantonment Station before departing for Islamabad.

He said the rally would pass through Hyderabad, Landhi, Nawabshah, Rohri and Sukkur, adding that “we will invite our sisters to join us once we reach [Islamabad]”.

JI is striving to bring politics and the nation together, Naeem said, describing the protest as a “revolutionary struggle”.

“According to the plan, people have departed for Islamabad via different routes,” he told supporters.

The purpose of the march was to help relieve the burden on the least privileged, he said, adding that people who couldn’t ask others for help were struggling.

“Instead of providing relief to the people, the government has decided that it would make the nation pay for its bad governance,” Naeem said.

“We demand that the levy extortion should end. Petrol prices would then reduce quickly and reach around Rs200 per litre. That’s when the economy could move forward.”

He said that the government had increased petrol prices more than any other state in the region. “The government wants to rob the common people in times of crisis,” Naeem claimed.

Criticising the high costs of groceries and essentials, Naeem described the petroleum, wheat and sugar industries as “mafias”, adding that “this cartel is robbing the people of Pakistan. If we continue to tolerate it, they will loot us further.”

He said voicing complaints on social media was pointless, urging supporters to step out of their houses to protest the injustice.

“For the past 36-37 days, nationwide protests have been ongoing,” he said, adding that protests were currently underway in Hyderabad, Sukkur, Mirpur Khas, Larkana, Naushahro Feroze, Rawalpindi, Gujrat and various cities of KP.

“JI has mobilised entire Pakistan,” Naeem said.

“No hindrances can stop the protesters,” he said. He added that if levies continued, the protests would increase, warning that they might oust the government.

“When we reach Islamabad, it’s not guaranteed that the situation would remain under control,” Naeem warned.

If the government tried to suppress the movement, the situation would get out of control, he said.

The JI has been holding nationwide protests against fuel levy, which is more than Rs100 per litre.

The party posted on X that the “train march”, led by Rehman from Karachi, would reach Rohri, Sukkur to hold a rally at 8pm. The protesters would depart for Multan on Monday.

More to follow