By Our Correspondent
LAHORE : – Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Tuesday warned the government of a possible countrywide strike if the recent increase in petrol and diesel prices was not withdrawn, as the party continued its sit-in outside the Punjab chief minister’s House.
Speaking at a press conference on the third day of the Lahore sit-in, Hafiz Naeem demanded an immediate reduction in fuel prices and abolition of the petroleum levy, calling for petrol to be brought down to Rs225 per litre.
He said consumers were already paying substantial taxes and levies on petroleum products while facing rising electricity, gas and other living costs.
“JI is not fighting for itself. It is fighting for the rights of the people,” the JI emir said, adding that the party would continue its protest movement until its demands were addressed.
JI announces broader protest movement
Hafiz Naeem said women and lawyers would also join the ongoing protests, warning that the party could expand the campaign across the country if the government failed to reverse the fuel price increase.
The Lahore Bar Association also announced support for the sit-in, with its president Irfan Hayat Bajwa joining the protest and saying lawyers would participate in the movement.
JI sit-ins were also continuing in Karachi and Peshawar, according to party officials.
Hafiz Naeem criticises petroleum levy, taxes
The JI chief criticised the government for collecting revenue from consumers through petroleum levies and taxes while also imposing heavy charges on electricity and gas bills.
He demanded greater transparency in taxation and criticised alleged corruption and inefficiencies within the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), saying weaknesses in the tax system were contributing to the country’s economic difficulties.
JI demands review of IPP agreements
Hafiz Naeem also renewed his criticism of agreements with independent power producers (IPPs), arguing that successive governments had entered into costly contracts in the name of resolving the electricity crisis.
He said the government had shut down five of 27 IPPs and had claimed that the move would save the national exchequer Rs3.36 trillion.
The JI emir demanded similar action regarding agreements with the remaining IPPs, arguing that reducing power-sector costs could provide relief to consumers.
Criticism of Punjab, Sindh governments
Hafiz Naeem also criticised the performance of the Punjab and Sindh governments in the education, health and agriculture sectors.
He claimed that thousands of schools in Punjab had been outsourced and expressed concern over the condition of the education system in Sindh.
He called for empowered local governments and urged authorities to implement constitutional provisions relating to local governance.
Hafiz Naeem pointed out that Punjab had not held local government elections since 2015, while Balochistan had also yet to conduct local elections.
The JI emir further criticised the existing political system, alleging that the PML-N, PPP and MQM-P were benefiting from the prevailing political arrangements.
