JI held demonstrations across Pakistan, with protests reported in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Karachi.
LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announced a march toward the Punjab Chief Minister’s House in Lahore on August 9, as the party continued nationwide protests against rising petroleum prices and inflation.
Addressing a protest rally in Lahore, Hafiz Naeem said the government had acknowledged the failure of the existing system and announced that JI workers would march toward the CM House and stage a sit-in.
He added that similar sit-ins would be organized outside governors’ houses in other provinces as part of the party’s campaign against rising costs and economic hardships.
JI held demonstrations across Pakistan, with protests reported in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta, along with several other cities including Gujranwala, Dera Ghazi Khan, Sargodha, Thatta, Matiari, Shikarpur, Khairpur, Kandhkot, Tando Allahyar, Abbottabad and Malakand.
In Islamabad, clashes were reported between police and JI workers during an attempt to clear a road blockade at Chungi No. 26. JI leader Liaquat Baloch criticized the police action, saying authorities should focus on their responsibilities instead of harassing party workers.
Hafiz Naeem accused the government of increasing petroleum prices and taxes while failing to pass on the benefit of lower global oil prices to consumers. He claimed the government had collected Rs8 trillion in petroleum levy and was attempting to hide administrative failures and corruption.
The JI chief demanded that petrol prices be reduced to Rs225 per litre, while calling for the abolition of petroleum levy and a reduction in taxes to provide relief to citizens.
