JI Emir Announces Nationwide Rallies, Signature Campaign Against Levy

Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman on Saturday announced a nationwide campaign against the petroleum levy, including public rallies and a signature drive, warning that the JI would resume its long march if the government failed to provide relief after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s return to Pakistan.

Addressing a press conference at Mansoorah, Rehman said JI workers remained mobilised and would continue their campaign until the petroleum levy was abolished. He said the JI would hold rallies in Charsadda, Swabi, Karak, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Larkana, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Karachi and other cities, with a detailed schedule to be announced later.

He also announced the launch of a nationwide signature campaign against the levy, saying JI would seek signatures from the public as part of its campaign.

Acting Secretary General Nazir Ahmad Janjua, JI Punjab Central Emir Javed Kasuri, Information Secretary Shakil Ahmed Turabi and JI Youth Lahore President Jibran Butt were also present at the press conference.

Rehman said the government had used traditional tactics to prevent JI from holding its Lahore rally a day earlier, but workers managed to reach the venue despite the restrictions. He said the rally demonstrated that JI workers were still active in the field and would continue their struggle over public issues.

He invited political and opposition parties to join JI’s sit-ins and rallies to raise issues affecting the public.

On the petroleum levy, Hafiz Naeem said the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) did not require the government to impose the levy. He said he expected Prime Minister to hold talks with JI after returning home and abolish the levy.

He said the party had postponed its protest for a few days at the prime minister’s request.

“Jamaat-e-Islami cannot throw its workers and the people into the fire,” he said, adding that his party was pursuing the issue while seeking to avoid casualties and losses.

He called for a reduction in government expenditure and said rulers should use 1,300cc vehicles and cut their expenses. He also demanded an end to interest-based financing at the federal level and said there was no justification for allocating federal funds to provincial departments after the 18th Amendment.

Reacting to calls for imposing governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Hafiz Naeem said JI would strongly oppose any such move. He described peaceful protest as the constitutional right of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and said JI supported that right.

He said JI had also taken the petroleum levy issue to the constitutional court. However, he criticised the judicial system, saying that when public issues were taken to courts, judges often went on leave and people were still deprived of justice despite judges receiving facilities from state resources.

The JI emir also criticised the prime minister’s Sept 25 address to the United Nations General Assembly, saying the speech did not give detailed treatment to Kashmir and Palestine. He urged the government to take a clear position against India’s actions in occupied Kashmir and Israel’s actions in Palestine instead of seeking to please US President Donald Trump.

Rehman said the JI leadership in occupied Kashmir had faced arrests and the sealing of offices and institutions. He also criticised the government for not mentioning Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik and other Kashmiri leaders imprisoned in India.