No More Delays on Petroleum Levy Relief, Warns JI Chief

KARACHI, Nov 7: Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has warned the government against further delays in providing relief from the petroleum levy, saying that JI would take its struggle to the streets if negotiations fail to produce decisions in the public interest.

Addressing a press conference at Idara Noor-e-Haq on Saturday, he said negotiations with the government had reached their final stage, but no final decision had yet been announced. Karachi JI Emir Munim Zafar was also present.

Rehman said the government had agreed in principle to gradually abolish the levy. He said the government had sought another two to four days to conclude the matter, which the JI had agreed to give. However, he warned that further delays would not be tolerated.

He said the JI's persistent efforts had prompted the government to engage oil refineries in negotiations over relief for consumers. Despite difficult economic conditions, he added, refineries had earned profits running into thousands of times their original levels.

Following these discussions, consumers had received some relief on petroleum products, he said, adding that the JI had urged the government to extend the existing relief to vehicles up to 1,300cc and introduce concessions on diesel used in agriculture and fuel consumed by public transport.

Turning to the political situation, the JI chief said the country continued to face political instability, with neither the federal nor the four provincial governments enjoying a genuine public mandate.

He said governments imposed through Form 47 could not deliver meaningful improvement in people's lives.

Criticising the Sindh government, he said corruption and mismanagement had continued in the province for the past 18 years, while Karachi had been reduced to one of the world's worst-managed cities despite being a major contributor to Pakistan's economy.

He said the provincial government failed to address the city's worsening civic problems and added that an imposed mayor had failed to protect Karachi's interests.

He maintained that JI-led town administrations were developing schools, parks and roads despite limited resources, but major problems involving sewage and garbage remained unresolved due to the provincial government's failure to act.

Referring to an international ranking of 173 cities, he said Karachi stood at 170th position in terms of living conditions.

Commenting on the US midterm elections, Rehman congratulated the American people on defeat for Trump and the pro-Israel lobby, calling it a victory for Palestinian resistance.

He said Palestinians had demonstrated extraordinary resilience despite thousands of casualties and that people around the world had learned lessons in resistance from Gaza.

He regretted that Israel continued bombing Palestinians despite the ceasefire agreement and had also intensified its oppression in the occupied West Bank.

The JI chief called for unity among people standing for justice worldwide, particularly in the Muslim world, to confront Israeli aggression.

Referring to his recent visit to Türkiye, he said he had met leaders of Islamic movements from different parts of the world. He argued that the European capitalist system was facing a crisis and that the world needed an alternative based on Islamic principles.

He called on Islamic movements to continue joint efforts towards presenting Islam as an alternative system.