JI announces third wave of anti-levy protests across country on Friday

The Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan (JI) has announced its third phase of nationwide protests against the petroleum levy, scheduled to commence on Friday, according to a press release. Sit-ins are planned in all districts across the country, with the government currently imposing Rs114 per litre on petrol and Rs100 per litre on diesel.

On September 3, JI and the federal government reached an agreement to form committees to explore measures for reducing the levy and providing public relief. The party's emir, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, has reiterated their demand for the complete abolition of the petroleum levy.

JI Vice Emir Liaqat Baloch received a message from Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and PM's Adviser on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, conveying Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's request for a meeting. Rehman has clarified that any meeting would focus solely on the levy's abolition. If the government fails to act, Rehman warns that the protests could escalate to street demonstrations.

JI's campaign against the levy began on August 16 with sit-ins in all provincial capitals and a nationwide strike called for September 3. On September 20, the party organized a protest march towards Islamabad, warning that further delays in abolishing the levy could result in an attempt to remove the government. However, JI emir postponed the long march pending a meeting with the PM, as requested by Shehbaz.