{
  "id": 8945560,
  "title": "Naeem questions train delay as JI caravan departs Sukkur for 'phase 2' of protest march",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/naeem-questions-train-delay-as-ji-caravan-departs-sukkur-for-phase-2-8945560",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-21T14:55:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn - Pakistan",
    "slug": "dawn-pakistan",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2031594/naeem-questions-train-delay-as-ji-caravan-departs-sukkur-for-phase-2-of-protest-march"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) leader Hafiz Naeemur Rehman expressed dissatisfaction on Monday regarding a delay in the train carrying his caravan from Sukkur to Multan. Subsequently, Rehman departed on the \"second phase\" of his party’s protest march to Islamabad. The protest march commenced on Sunday, initially departing from Karachi by train. Throughout the JI’s protests, they have demanded that the government abolish the petroleum levy. Rehman warned that should the government not comply, the protest could shift its objective to ousting the government.\n\nThe protest caravan reached Sukkur on Sunday night via the Rehman Baba Express. The caravan was scheduled to journey to Multan via the Shalimar Express; however, the Shalimar Express encountered a four-hour delay in its expected arrival at Sukkur on Monday. Rehman questioned this delay during a press conference in Sukkur, stating, \"Does this delay have anything to do with our train march? Shalimar Express, which is not only a popular train but has been privatised, is delayed by four hours today.\" Rehman further asserted that if a four to five-hour delay and its impact on the railway system were ordinary, then the government’s performance was for everyone to evaluate.\n\nThe Shalimar Express finally departed from Rohri station at approximately 5:45 pm, with Rehman set to address his supporters upon reaching Multan. From Multan, the party planned to march by road towards Islamabad. Rehman addressed supporters in a video clip, stating that the \"first phase\" of the march had concluded, and the second phase had begun with the journey to Multan. He added that additional marches had departed from Balochistan and Bab-i-Khyber.\n\nAccording to an official at Karachi’s chief controller office, Shalimar Express arrived in Karachi at 7:20 am, causing it to depart for Hyderabad four hours later than usual. The delay in its arrival at Hyderabad led to a subsequent delay in its arrival at Sukkur’s Rohri railway station, where Rehman awaited the caravan. The Pakistan Railways’ Karachi division released a statement acknowledging that delayed down trains could cause disruptions in the departure of up trains. Rehman addressed the media in Sukkur earlier, urging Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to put an end to the petroleum levy, claiming the relief offered under the government's scheme was insufficient and that the petrol price should be reduced. Rehman criticized the PPP, asserting that while it claimed to support the JI’s campaign against the federal government, obstacles were allegedly placed in the way of the train march and people intending to welcome it.",
  "summary": "HYDERABAD: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Monday questioned a delay in the train scheduled to take his caravan from Sukkur to Multan, with him later departing on the “second phase” of his party’s protest march to Islamabad. JI launched a protest “march” towards the federal capital on Sunday, departing Karachi by train. The party has been demanding that the government abolish…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "JI chief questions train delay as march comes to a pause at Sukkur",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/ji-chief-questions-train-delay-as-march-comes-to-a-pause-at-sukkur",
        "published": "2026-09-21T12:45:38.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}