JI will not give up its right until the PL is abolished: Naeem

ISLAMABAD—Jamaat-e-Islami's chief, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, has declared that his party will persist in marching on Islamabad until the Petroleum Levy (PL) is eliminated. He threatened to broaden the protest movement if the government fails to alleviate the burden on the public due to inflation. During a press conference on Wednesday, Naeem clarified that the long march had been suspended at the prime minister's behest.

He promised to meet the prime minister post his return to Pakistan and stated that the future actions of JI would hinge on the result of that meeting.

Naeem underscored that Pakistanis are currently paying approximately Rs140 per liter for petrol, encompassing various taxes. He advocated for the abolition of the petroleum levy, arguing that the government could generate necessary funds by tackling corruption within the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). FBR reportedly incurs annual losses of Rs1,300 billion due to corruption. He proposed reducing the interest rate to 8%, which historically has been correlated with a drop in inflation.

The party initiated its sit-ins and protests against the PL since August. They later escalated to road blockades at 510 locations and subsequently a train march towards Islamabad. The long march was temporarily halted following a phone conversation between Naeem and the prime minister. Naeem assured that JI would uphold its protests during the hiatus, organizing public gatherings, including in Lahore and other cities.

He revealed that JI had engaged in multiple rounds of talks with the government, presenting viable proposals; however, the government's response was deemed unsatisfactory.

He criticized the government for its alleged failure to address the PL's necessity based on International Monetary Fund (IMF) requirements. Naeem contended that the IMF agreement does not explicitly demand Pakistan to raise revenue through the PL. He lambasted the government for excessive borrowing from private banks and paying substantial interest, drawing connections to an inequitable economic framework.

Naeem lambasted major political parties for inadequately addressing public issues, positioning JI's campaign as a challenge to corrupt practices. He reiterated his belief that PTI's founder, Imran Khan, is a political prisoner and asserted that JI's members face injustice.