JI launches 'train march' towards Islamabad against petroleum levy

On Sunday, the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) commenced its protest march towards Islamabad, warning that persistent government refusal to abolish the petroleum levy could escalate to a challenge against the ruling administration. Party leader Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, speaking to supporters at Karachi’s Cantonment Station before departing for Islamabad, emphasized that the rally would traverse Hyderabad, Landhi, Nawabshah, Rohri, and Sukkur, inviting women to join the protest in Islamabad.

JI, according to Rehman, aims to unite politics and the nation, describing the protest as a "revolutionary struggle". The aim of the march was to alleviate the financial burden on the less fortunate, who were struggling without the ability to seek assistance. Rehman criticized the government's decision to increase petrol prices, claiming it would cause the economy to stagnate unless reduced to approximately Rs200 per litre.

The party leader also accused the government of being part of a "mafia" that exploits Pakistan's populace, claiming that levies, along with soaring prices of wheat and sugar, were robbing people of their livelihoods. National protests against the petroleum levy, which stands at more than Rs100 per litre, have been ongoing for 36-37 days, with demonstrations currently taking place in multiple cities across Pakistan.

JI has mobilized the entire country, and Rehman warned that if the levies persist, the protests would intensify, potentially leading to the government's removal. He cautioned that should the government attempt to suppress the movement, the situation could spiral out of control.