MULTAN — Jamaat-i-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announced on Tuesday that his party has postponed its planned long march until the first week of October at the request of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while insisting that its protest campaign against rising costs and government policies will not be called off.
Speaking at a press conference in Multan, Hafiz Naeem said the JI is championing the basic problems confronting ordinary Pakistanis and accused the government of using petrol prices and tax collection as a smokescreen for corruption.
Sit-Ins Continue in 42 Cities
The JI chief said sit-ins are ongoing in 42 cities across the country and that the party had formally asked the government in writing to withdraw the levy, only to receive a negative response.
He noted that several rounds of talks had already been held with the government, and that the party had launched a train march from Karachi to Rohri and onward to Multan as part of its campaign over public grievances.
Petrol Prices and Relief Package Criticized
According to Hafiz Naeem, soaring petroleum prices have created a difficult situation nationwide, and the government’s relief package would benefit the government itself rather than address the concerns raised by the JI.
He said the prime minister had personally requested that the long march be postponed, but made clear the party would not retreat from its protest movement.
“We will not stop,” Hafiz Naeem said, adding that the long march had been deferred until the first week of October.
Written Assurances Sought
The JI emir said the party would seek written assurances from the government and would hold further talks with the prime minister after his return to the country.
He stressed that the party’s agenda was not confrontation or disorder but relief for the people, warning that the long march would resume if the government failed to deliver.
“Our Multan sit-in will continue,” he said, adding that the party would meet and negotiate with the government but would not abandon its long march.
