Levy Repeal and Democracy in KP: JI Emir Urges Parliament to Act

Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has urged parliamentary leaders and members of the Senate and National Assembly from the ruling coalition and opposition to legislate to end the petroleum levy and restore Parliament’s authority over its imposition.

In a letter to the heads and members of parliamentary parties, he called for joint efforts to provide relief to people struggling with inflation and protect the constitutional and democratic order in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

Rehman said Pakistan was facing severe economic pressure and political uncertainty. While rising inflation had compounded public hardships, government announcements about imposing governor’s rule in KP, enforcing an emergency in 12 districts and suspending the constitutional and democratic system had created further uncertainty.

He urged lawmakers to rise above political affiliations and play their role in protecting the Constitution, democracy, public rights and the dignity of Parliament.

The JI chief said persistent inflation and rising petroleum prices had made life increasingly difficult for ordinary citizens. The impact extended beyond vehicle owners, driving up transportation costs and prices of food, agricultural produce, industrial goods and other daily necessities.

He argued that Parliament had weakened its own role by delegating to the government the authority to set the upper limit of the petroleum levy. Lawmakers should legislate to reclaim this power and ensure that decisions on the levy were made in the public interest, he said.

Rehman maintained that Parliament had the constitutional and legal authority to abolish the levy and provide relief to the public. He said lawmakers had a fundamental responsibility to protect citizens’ rights and take effective measures to ease their financial burden.

He added that Jamaat-e-Islami had already proposed practical measures to provide relief. During negotiations with the government, the party had also identified steps that could help compensate for the revenue shortfall resulting from the abolition of the petroleum levy.

The government should also curb unnecessary expenditure and address financial irregularities to create room for public relief, he said.

Turning to the situation in KP, the JI leader warned that imposing governor’s rule or declaring an emergency in 12 districts could further aggravate the political crisis. Instead of taking extraordinary measures, the authorities should resolve disputes in accordance with the Constitution, the law and democratic principles.

He called on parliamentary parties to adopt a united position in the national interest, legislate to abolish the petroleum levy and take effective steps to safeguard constitutional and democratic supremacy.

The JI chief expressed hope that parliamentary leaders would respond seriously to the challenges facing the country and take concrete measures to provide economic relief and strengthen democratic stability.