PTI JI Alliance Gohar backs protests over petroleum levy and inflation

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan has backed the Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) protest campaign against the petroleum levy and inflation, saying his party will support the struggle for relief from rising prices.

Speaking on Sunday, Gohar also welcomed JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman’s call for the release of PTI founder Imran Khan.

“We support JI’s sit-ins and welcome Rehman’s statement regarding Imran Khan’s release,” Gohar said. He added that the PTI would invite the JI to join its long march for justice.

The PTI chairman also pledged support for the JI’s campaign against inflation as the religious party continued its nationwide protests over high petroleum prices.

The JI’s sit-ins entered their 29th day on Sunday. Protest camps remained active at more than 35 locations, including Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Haripur and Swat.

The JI is also preparing for a long march towards Islamabad on September 20.

Rehman said the longer the government delayed negotiations, the wider the protest campaign would become. He vowed to continue the struggle until the government provided relief to consumers.

He said the sit-ins would continue alongside the planned long march.

Petrol Relief Shehbaz announces Rs100 per litre subsidy for small vehicles

Rehman also responded to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s announcement of a Rs100-per-litre petrol relief scheme for motorcycles, rickshaws, Qingqi rickshaws and small cars.

He claimed the government introduced the relief after pressure from the JI’s campaign against what he called an “unjust” petroleum levy.

Rehman said the scheme would not change the JI’s position. The party would continue its sit-ins and long march until the petroleum levy was completely abolished.

He added that the JI would review the prime minister’s relief package before announcing its formal response.

Meanwhile, talks between the government and the JI over relief from high petroleum prices have been delayed again. The third round of negotiations, initially scheduled for Monday, has been moved to Tuesday at the prime minister’s direction.

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal contacted JI Deputy Emir Liaquat Baloch and conveyed Shehbaz’s message regarding the revised schedule.

Baloch said the government had formed one committee for negotiations with the JI, while two separate committees would address the petroleum levy and issues involving independent power producers.

He said negotiations on the petroleum levy would take place on Tuesday, followed by talks on IPPs on Wednesday.

The government and JI have already held two rounds of talks in Islamabad without reaching a final agreement. The JI wants the petroleum levy reduced or abolished, while the government has sought additional time to examine its proposals.

The government’s negotiating team includes Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik and Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani.

The JI team is led by Liaquat Baloch and includes Syed Firasat Shah, Nasrullah Randhawa, Inayatullah Khan, Ziauddin Ansari, Naveed Ali Baig and Shahid Naeem.

Despite the ongoing negotiations, the JI has maintained its protest programme. The party has warned that it will intensify its campaign if the government fails to provide meaningful relief.

The upcoming talks will therefore be closely watched, particularly as the September 20 long march approaches.