JI chief warns talks with govt may end after 4th round if decision on abolishing petroleum levy delayed

Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has cautioned that the ongoing discussions with the government regarding the petroleum levy may cease after the fourth round if the levy is not repealed promptly. The negotiations commenced on September 7, following an agreement to establish committees consisting of experts and leaders to deliberate on recommendations for diminishing the petroleum levy and offering relief to the public.

Thus far, three rounds of talks have transpired, with the fourth slated for 6pm on Wednesday in Islamabad. Rehman, in a statement issued by the party, denounced the government's fuel relief scheme and insisted on the complete abolition of the levy, rather than substituting it with interim relief measures. He emphasized that if the government persists in delaying and fails to abolish the petroleum levy, the talks today will mark the final session.

Rehman reiterated the party's commitment to proceed with their march to Islamabad on September 20. According to the statement, Rehman highlighted that the government amassed Rs1,567 billion annually via the petroleum levy but allocated only Rs25bn in relief. He deemed the package insufficient and queried its proposed execution through weekly fuel distribution.

Rehman criticized "lockdown measures," asserting that traders were "being coerced under the guise of preserving the system." He also denounced the "practice of daily revisions of petroleum prices," expressing concern over their frequency and the difficulties it creates for consumers and businesses. Rehman also detailed plans to organize public gatherings, including a sizable assembly in Karachi on Wednesday night, rallies in Lahore on Thursday, and marches in Mardan and Peshawar on Friday.

The Islamabad demonstration, he stressed, would not be abandoned. Rehman appealed to the government to refrain from disrupting the peaceful and democratic protest. Separately, via a post on X, the party declared that Wednesday's round will be conducted at the Federal Secretariat at 6pm, with the JI delegation headed by Liaquat Baloch and the government represented by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal.

The government's squad will comprise Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, and Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani. JI has been organizing continuous sit-ins in Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi, and numerous other locations throughout the nation since August 16, protesting the levy and IPP agreements.

The government imposes Rs114 per liter in taxes and duties on petrol and Rs100 per liter on diesel. Last week, Rehman had cautioned the government that the ongoing protest would advance towards Islamabad on September 20 if the levy was not withdrawn.