'No turning back': Jamaat-i-Islami digs its heels in over Islamabad march

Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) refuses to call off its planned march to Islamabad unless the Pakistani government abolishes the petroleum levy, with party chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman stating that caravans of protesters would begin moving toward the capital on Sunday. The government currently levies Rs114 per litre on petrol and Rs100 per litre on diesel.

Since August 16, JI has been holding regular sit-ins across the country to protest the levy. JI chief Rehman said at a press conference in Mansoorah that if the government could not abolish the levy, they would not call off their march, setting the stage for a potential conflict with authorities. The government, backed by a recent Islamabad High Court ruling against actions that limit freedom of movement, is determined to prevent the rallies from disrupting traffic and normal life in Islamabad.

Rehman promised peaceful protests and warned the government against taking any action against the protesters. The JI chief urged the government to present a concrete proposal for abolishing the petroleum levy, noting that the party had rejected the government’s fuel relief package as inadequate. The current relief scheme offers a subsidy of Rs100 per litre for motorcycles, rickshaws, Qingqi rickshaws, and cars up to 800cc, subject to monthly limits.

Rehman accused the government of avoiding structural measures to reduce the burden on consumers, stating that petroleum prices directly impact the cost of essential commodities. He claimed that the government collects up to Rs107 per litre as petroleum levy on petrol, in addition to other taxes. The JI chief highlighted the government's efforts to address economic impact due to tensions in the Middle East by reintroducing austerity measures, reducing fuel provision for official vehicles by 50% for three months.

Rehman noted that the JI’s protest movement has lasted 35 days, with over 25 sit-ins continuing nationwide. He said the party held peaceful demonstrations in 42 cities, making the movement a national issue. The government has contacted the JI for talks multiple times, but the JI repeatedly sought more time. If the government does not engage in talks, Rehman said, it will have to face public pressure.

The JI also supported the PTI’s peaceful protest planned for September 27, led by its founder Imran Khan, and critiqued the government’s economic policies, calling for reduced interest rates and questioning the State Bank of Pakistan’s autonomy.