JI-Govt Talks: Baloch Warns of Sept 20 Islamabad March Over Levy

Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan has rejected the Rs100 relief announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on petrol prices, saying it cannot substitute for the complete abolition of the petroleum levy, and warned that its supporters would march on Islamabad on September 20 if the levy was not withdrawn.

JI Vice Emir Liaqat Baloch issued the warning on Tuesday after the third round of talks between the JI’s negotiation team and the government team in Islamabad.

The JI delegation was led by Liaqat Baloch and included Syed Farasat Shah, Nasrullah Randhawa, Inayatullah Khan and Ziauddin Ansari. The government team comprised Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, Energy Minister Awais Khan Leghari, Law and Justice Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, along with senior officials.

Talking to the media after the meeting, Baloch said government task forces set up by the prime minister gave detailed briefings on petroleum prices and independent power producers (IPPs). He said Energy Minister Awais Leghari briefed the JI team on progress in negotiations with IPPs.

Baloch said the JI had categorically rejected the Rs100 petrol relief announced by the prime minister, insisting that the party’s protest movement would continue until the petroleum levy was completely abolished.

He said the government was trying to divert public pressure through temporary relief measures, whereas consumers could receive genuine relief only if the levy was withdrawn.

According to Baloch, taxes and levies had placed an additional burden of around Rs130 on consumers. He said reducing this burden would provide meaningful relief to the public.

Criticising the ruling elite, he said the government was unwilling to cut its own expenditures and accused successive governments of patronising influential groups, including the sugar mafia.

On the IPP issue, he said Awais Leghari and General Zafar had informed the JI delegation that matters concerning 54 IPPs had been finalised, while negotiations with another 36 IPPs were at an advanced stage.

He said the government had told the JI that negotiations with IPPs had resulted in savings of Rs4,600 billion.

“If such a huge saving has been made, why has its benefit not been passed on to the people?” Baloch asked, adding that the government’s briefing had validated figures previously presented by the JI.

He also questioned the utilisation of funds collected under the climate support levy, saying the money had not been spent for its intended purpose.

“The government will not be able to escape public pressure until the petroleum levy is abolished,” he warned, saying people from across the country would head towards Islamabad.