Shehbaz Sharif Seeks Delay of Jamaat-e-Islami Protest Against Fuel Tax
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for the delay of Jamaat-e-Islami’s march against the levy on petroleum products until he returns to the country, in a phone call with party chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman. According to a Jamaat-e-Islami spokesperson, the prime minister said he would be ready for “meaningful” talks on the tax after returning from New York.
Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman responded that Jamaat-e-Islami was not seeking confrontation with the government, but had taken to the streets to reflect public concerns and that the authorities should recognise the right to protest. He added that the party’s final decision on whether to postpone or continue the march would be announced after consultation in its shura council.
The Jamaat-e-Islami leader also said that even if the campaign were delayed, his party would not give up its right to protest. He reiterated his demand for the abolition of what Jamaat-e-Islami calls an “unjust” tax, and urged the government to provide economic relief to the public instead of increasing pressure.
The Jamaat-e-Islami train march reached Multan on Monday evening, and Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman addressed supporters at the city’s railway station. He said the protest campaign had drawn a strong turnout despite the train being delayed by four hours.
According to him, the convoy will move from southern Punjab to central Punjab after passing through parts of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, before heading towards Lahore and Islamabad. Jamaat-e-Islami launched the march from Karachi on Sunday.
In his speech, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman also criticised rising wheat, flour and sugar prices, saying economic pressure on poor and middle-income groups had increased. He also described the government’s policies on sugar imports and exports as “contradictory”.
Meanwhile, Pakistani media have reported that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is also preparing for another nationwide march towards Islamabad. In recent weeks, leaders of the party have accused the federal government of “political repression” and “restricting party activity”.
At the same time, Islamabad courts have also imposed restrictions on some routes leading to the capital and on the departure of several PTI leaders from the country. With these developments, Pakistan will face two simultaneous protest campaigns in the coming days.
Multan is one of the important cities in Pakistan’s Punjab province and lies on the route of campaigns moving from the south of the country towards Lahore and then Islamabad. New York is currently hosting the United Nations General Assembly, which officials from various countries are visiting the United States to attend.
