JI announces shutter-down, wheel-jam strike against petroleum levy

PESHAWAR - The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, announced on Wednesday that if the federal government does not halt collecting petroleum levy, demonstrations will be held following the 12th day of Rabiul Awwal. Speaking to party members during a protest sit-in, Rehman stated that they plan to implement a full "shutter-down and wheel-jam strike" after 12th Rabiul Awwal.

He commented on the misconception that his protests against petroleum levy, power agreements, and essential commodity price reductions were drawing insufficient attention. Rehman emphasized that the movement had only just begun and would continue, noting that the government recognized the movement's effectiveness and had managed to reduce diesel prices.

He called for an immediate end to the daily "increase" in oil prices, stating that resolving the issue requires the government to eliminate the petroleum levy. The JI leader highlighted that people cannot bear the petroleum levy and asserted that the government must terminate this "extortion." He criticized the government's excessive tax collection, pointing out that Rs100 billion more than the target had been collected, yet the government continued to burden the public.

Rehman accused the prime minister of failing to address the levy issue, claiming that the levy should no longer be collected on petroleum products. He accused the government of exempting IPPs from taxes while burdening citizens. Rehman asserted that the Federal Bureau of Revenue's 25,000 employees have failed to efficiently collect taxes, leading the government to impose additional taxes on the poor.

He criticized major political parties for their lack of understanding of the poor socio-economic conditions of the population and urged workers from all parties to support their movement against the petroleum levy and IPP agreements. Rehman warned that he would not engage in talks for their "face-saving" and called for the party's demands to be met without delay.

He also criticized the outsourcing of government schools and basic health units in Punjab to private organizations and expressed concern over the declining agricultural growth in Punjab, which has led to increased poverty levels. The JI chief held the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), a major political coalition formed in September 2020, responsible for the current economic crisis in the country and called for a system overhaul.

He emphasized that force is not a solution to the people's problems and advocated for maintaining law and order in consultation with all stakeholders.