{
  "id": 3799667,
  "title": "JI announces nationwide strike on Sept 3 against petroleum levy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/ji-announces-nationwide-strike-on-sept-3-against-petroleum-levy-3799667",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-27T19:05:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn - Pakistan",
    "slug": "dawn-pakistan",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2025554/ji-announces-nationwide-strike-on-sept-3-against-petroleum-levy"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Jamaat-i-Islami leader, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, declared a countrywide strike on September 3, protesting the petroleum levy. Rehman warned the government that if it did not provide relief to the public, this sit-in campaign could evolve into a large march in Islamabad. During a gathering outside the Punjab chief minister's residence in Lahore, Rehman criticized the ruling elite, accusing them of having no vision and only aiming to exploit the people. He emphasized that the protest movement had broadened beyond three cities, with demonstrations now taking place in various parts of the country. Rehman urged party members to escalate their efforts, stating that the government was testing the patience of the people. He called on traders to join the strike for the sake of public rights. Rehman assured that the strike would be peaceful, stating that \"not even a flowerpot will be broken\". However, he warned that the government would have to concede to the people's demands. The JI's protest encompassed not only the current sit-ins but was part of a larger fight against independent power producers, the petroleum levy, and the flour mafia. Rehman demanded the eradication of the petroleum levy and the ending of unjust IPP agreements, as well as reduced electricity and petrol prices for traders. He reminded the government of its previous failures to provide relief during a previous electricity price reduction and demanded the same relief for petroleum products. Rehman also addressed the Pims tragedy, blaming government negligence and incompetence for the children's deaths. He questioned the government's ability to run the country when it couldn't manage a hospital properly. He criticized the lack of safety measures at Pims and the absence of proper training for doctors and paramedics to handle emergencies. Rehman questioned the formation of a committee by Pims after the prime minister had already established one, stating that it seemed to be an attempt to shift responsibility. He demanded a thorough investigation into the incident and insisted that the matter could not be settled with the suspension of a single official. Rehman reiterated that the JI's sit-in aimed to secure the rights of Pakistan's 250 million citizens, emphasizing that the state should offer basic rights to its citizens, but successive governments had instead imposed taxes on them.",
  "summary": "Jamaat-i-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Thursday announced a nationwide strike for Sept 3 against the petroleum levy , warning the government that if relief was not provided to the people, the ongoing sit-in campaign could culminate in a long march on Islamabad. “The rulers have neither a vision nor the ability to govern. Their only vision is to loot the people,” Rehman said while addressing…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Express Tribune - Pakistan",
        "title": "JI announces Sept 3 nationwide strike against petroleum levy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/ji-announces-sept-3-nationwide-strike-against-petroleum-levy",
        "published": "2026-08-27T13:36:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "JI announces nationwide strike on Sept 3 against petroleum levy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/ji-announces-nationwide-strike-on-sept-3-against-petroleum-levy",
        "published": "2026-08-27T19:05:08.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}