KARACHI — Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has warned that his party will return to the streets if the government fails to act on abolishing the petroleum levy, vowing that its campaign will continue until the public receives meaningful relief.
Party Vows to Sustain Campaign
Addressing a press conference at Idara Noor-e-Haq, Hafiz Naeem said the party’s campaign against the petroleum levy would persist until the government delivered relief to the public. He described the levy as a heavy burden on ordinary citizens and said his party would not back down from its demand.
Rs150 Billion Collected Monthly, Says JI Chief
Hafiz Naeem said he had raised the issue with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, urging him to abolish the levy, and claimed the government was collecting Rs150 billion every month through the tax. According to the JI chief, Dar assured him that the government would share relevant figures within a day or two.
He said Dar had argued that abolishing the levy would also benefit owners of larger vehicles. In response, Hafiz Naeem proposed increasing the levy on expensive vehicles from Rs100 to Rs200 while providing relief to the middle and lower-income segments of society.
PM Seeks More Time on Relief Measures
The Jamaat-e-Islami chief said he had also met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who sought more time to consider additional relief measures. However, he reiterated that his party’s primary demand remained the abolition of the petroleum levy.
Criticism of Federal and Provincial Governments
Hafiz Naeem also criticised the federal and provincial governments, alleging that they had come to power through Form 47, and blamed corruption for the deterioration of conditions in Sindh, particularly Karachi.
Pressure Mounts on Government
The warning signals a potential new phase of street agitation over fuel taxation, with the JI positioning the petroleum levy as a central test of the government’s willingness to ease the financial strain on households. The government has yet to announce a formal decision on the demand.
