JI Emir Announces Nationwide Protests Against Petroleum Levy, Demands Open Trial in Foreign Women Assault Case

JI Emir Announces Nationwide Protests Against Petroleum Levy, Demands Open Trial in Foreign Women Assault Case

LAHORE, July 7: Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has announced nationwide protests and sit-ins on Friday, July 10, against the government's "extortionary" petroleum levy, while demanding an open court trial in the alleged kidnapping and rape case involving foreign women.
Addressing a press conference at Mansoorah on Tuesday, he urged the government to raise India's aggression over Pakistan's waters at international forums, immediately begin work on the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, launch formal trade with Iran, and initiate dialogue to resolve the ongoing crisis in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. JI Vice Emir Liaqat Baloch, Deputy Secretaries Sheikh Usman Farooq and Nazir Ahmad Janjua, Lahore Emir Ziauddin Ansari, and Central Punjab Emir Javed Qasuri, were also present.
Rehman said the petroleum levy had become an unbearable burden on ordinary Pakistanis, adding the government was collecting Rs118 per litre in taxes and levies on petrol. He said the government had collected nearly Rs8.5 trillion through the petroleum levy so far, adding the money was being used to meet revenue targets rather than improve petroleum infrastructure. He also criticised the government's collection of approximately Rs60 billion under the Climate Support Levy, saying that the funds were not being spent on environmental protection or climate-related projects.
Criticising the government's economic policies, he said gas prices had been increased despite the discovery of new reserves, while no major international companies participated in the latest energy exploration bidding round, which he termed evidence of government incompetence. He said that LPG, officially priced at Rs241 per kilogram, was being sold for as much as Rs500 per kilogram, while consumers continued to face soaring electricity, fuel and food prices.
The JI chief criticised widespread corruption within the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), saying the tax authority had failed to perform its primary responsibilities despite employing around 25,000 officials. He said the ruling elite was purchasing luxury aircraft and expensive vehicles while ignoring the public's economic hardships.
Turning to Punjab, Rehaman said the provincial government was prioritising publicity campaigns over governance. He said nearly 10 million children remained out of school, educational institutions were being privatised, and wheat farmers had been forced to sell their crop at Rs3,500 per maund, while flour was being sold to consumers at around Rs5,600 per maund. He also criticised rising prices of bread and naan and warned that the influence of various mafias was hurting both farmers and consumers. He further said cotton cultivation in Punjab had declined by more than 50 percent as sugarcane cultivation expanded.
Calling on the public, particularly the youth, to participate in Friday's demonstrations, Rehman said petrol should cost no more than Rs225 per litre.
Referring to the alleged kidnapping and rape of foreign women, Rehman described the incident as deeply shameful and demanded that the case be heard in an open court to ensure transparency. He said justice must not only be done but also be seen to be done, regardless of how influential the accused may be.
The Jamaat-e-Islami emir also expressed grief over the recent tragedy in Kahna in which children lost their lives, urging the Punjab government not to use the incident as a pretext to target tuition centres. Instead, he called for addressing unsafe infrastructure, including dilapidated roads and hanging electricity wires, while questioning the performance of the provincial building control authorities.
On social welfare, Rehman said that poverty had risen significantly and the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) was being used for corruption and political misuse. Rather than introducing temporary relief schemes, he said, the government should formulate long-term policies, invest in education, and equip young people with information technology and vocational skills.
Discussing Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman urged the government to move forward with dialogue, saying disputes should not be passed from one generation to another. He said Jamaat-e-Islami was playing a mediatory role and that the Joint Action Committee was ready for negotiations. “The ball is now in the government's court," he said.
Responding to a question on regional issues, he urged Islamabad to present a strong case against India's aggression over Pakistan's waters. Referring to remarks previously made by Donald Trump regarding mediation on Kashmir and water disputes, Rehman said Pakistan should remind the US president of those commitments while leveraging its diplomatic role in facilitating dialogue between Iran and the United States.