Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has announced a nationwide shutter-down strike after 12th Rabi-ul-Awal as the party’s protests against the petroleum levy entered their eighth day. Speaking at a conference in Lahore on Sunday, Hafiz Naeem said the JI’s protest campaign was progressing successfully and would continue until the federal government implemented its demands. He rejected assurances without concrete measures, saying the party would not end its sit-ins merely on the basis of government promises. Fazlur Rahman criticises government over constitutional violations, political interference “The sit-in will end only when the government implements our demands in practical terms,” he said. The JI has been holding sit-ins since August 16 outside the Punjab chief minister’s residence in Lahore and the governor houses in Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar. The protests centre on rising petroleum prices and the government’s petroleum levy, which the party says has increased the financial burden on the public. Hafiz Naeem also criticised rising prices of essential commodities, saying Pakistan could not make economic progress while flour and sugar mafias continued to operate. He said farmers were also facing difficulties in obtaining fertiliser at affordable prices. The JI leader criticised government expenditure as well, objecting to the use of expensive official vehicles funded by taxpayers. The dispute over fuel prices has also triggered protests and demands from transporters and petroleum dealers. The All Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance recently suspended its nine-day nationwide strike for 40 days after receiving assurances from the federal and Sindh governments on several demands, including petroleum pricing. The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association has separately called for action on unresolved issues and implementation of commitments made by the petroleum minister. Hafiz Naeem said the JI would continue its campaign beyond Eid Milad-un-Nabi unless the government took practical steps to address its demands. Post navigation Fazlur Rahman criticises government over constitutional violations, political interference Shehbaz, Nawaz Sharif discuss Imran Khan hospital transfer and AJK politics
