PTI announces support for JI's ongoing sit-ins against petroleum levy, inflation

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan on Sunday announced support for Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) ongoing sit-ins against the petroleum levy and inflation, saying his party would invite the JI to join its long march for justice and would stand by its struggle against rising prices. Gohar also welcomed JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman’s statement regarding the release of PTI founder Imran Khan. “We support JI’s sit-ins and welcome Rehman’s statement regarding Imran Khan’s release,” Gohar said. He added that the JI would be invited to participate in the long march for justice and that the PTI would support its campaign against inflation. Read: JI announces Sept 20 long march on Islamabad over petroleum levy Meanwhile, JI’s countrywide sit-ins against the petroleum levy and inflation entered their 29th day on Sunday. Protest camps and sit-ins continued at more than 35 locations, including Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Haripur and Swat. Preparations are also under way for the JI’s planned long march to Islamabad on September 20. Rehman said the longer the government delayed negotiations, the more the sit-ins would expand. He said the party’s struggle would continue until relief was provided to the people. He also announced that the sit-ins would continue alongside the long march. Reacting to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's announcement of a scheme offering relief of Rs100 per litre on petrol for motorcycles, rickshaws and small cars, he said the government had been forced to offer the relief as a result of the JI’s campaign against the “unjust” petroleum levy. He said the government’s relief scheme would not affect the JI’s campaign against the petroleum levy. The party would continue its struggle, long march and sit-ins until the levy was completely abolished, he added. Also Read: JI submits six proposals to govt for abolishing petroleum levy Rehman said the JI would review the prime minister’s scheme before announcing its formal position on it. According to the JI, protest sit-ins and camps are also continuing in Sukkur, Chitral and Timergara, besides the other locations, with more than 35 protest sites operating across the country. Govt-JI talks delayed until Tuesday Talks between the government and the JI on providing relief to consumers from high petroleum prices have suffered another delay, with the government seeking an additional day to prepare for the third round of negotiations. The talks, scheduled for Monday, have been postponed until Tuesday on the directives of PM Shehbaz. The development came after two rounds of negotiations ended without a breakthrough. Meanwhile, the JI has retained its pressure campaign, with a long march towards Islamabad scheduled for September 20. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal contacted JI Deputy Emir Liaquat Baloch and conveyed the prime minister’s message. According to Baloch, Iqbal said that the prime minister wanted the negotiations on the petroleum levy to be held on Tuesday. Baloch said the government had constituted one committee for negotiations with the JI, while two separate committees had been formed to deal with the issues of petroleum levy and independent power producers (IPPs). He said talks on the petroleum levy would be held on Tuesday, while discussions on IPPs would take place on Wednesday. The government and the JI have already held two rounds of talks in Islamabad over the petroleum levy, but neither produced a final agreement. The JI has been demanding a reduction or abolition of the levy to provide relief to consumers, while the government has sought more time to consider different proposals. Sources said the third round of talks is expected to focus on the JI’s demands regarding the petroleum levy and the proposals being considered by the government. The two sides are also expected to discuss issues related to IPPs in a separate round. Read More: City shuts shop as JI strike turns up heat on govt The government’s negotiating committee comprises the planning minister, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik and Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani. The JI negotiating team is headed by Liaquat Baloch and includes Syed Firasat Shah, Nasrullah Randhawa, Inayatullah Khan, Ziauddin Ansari Advocate, Naveed Ali Baig and Shahid Naeem. Despite continuing negotiations, the JI has maintained its protest programme. It has announced a long march towards Islamabad on September 20 and said its protest campaign would continue until consumers were provided relief from high petroleum prices and other economic pressures. Progress in the upcoming talks is being closely watched, as failure to reach an agreement in the third round could prompt the JI to intensify its planned protest campaign.