Millions join JI’s nationwide protests against petroleum levy on Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman’s call

Millions join JI’s nationwide protests against petroleum levy on Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman’s call

Aug. 7: Responding to the call of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, millions of people took to the streets across Pakistan on Friday to protest repeated increases in petroleum prices and petroleum levy. Peaceful sit-ins, rallies and demonstrations were held at around 510 locations nationwide, with major highways, motorways, interchanges and toll plazas blocked. Reports of police action against protesters, including arrests and use of force, also emerged from several areas.
According to details, Lahore's Qurtaba Chowk was completely blocked, where Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman addressed the central protest sit-in. In Islamabad, a demonstration was held at Chungi No. 26, where Jamaat-e-Islami Vice Emir Liaqat Baloch addressed participants. Clashes were reported between police and protesters during the demonstration.
In Rawalpindi, a sit-in was staged on Murree Road near Liaquat Bagh under the leadership of JI North Punjab Emir Dr. Tariq Saleem. In Karachi, JI Karachi Emir Munem Zafar Khan led a protest rally and sit-in on Shahrah-e-Faisal, drawing large crowds of citizens, including youth and party workers. Convoys from different districts of Karachi converged on Shahrah-e-Faisal, where protesters parked motorcycles and vehicles to register their protest.
Across interior Sindh, demonstrations were held from Hyderabad to Kashmore under the banner of Jamaat-e-Islami. Sit-ins and rallies took place in Hyderabad, Sukkur, Mirpurkhas, Larkana, Kashmore, Ghotki, Ubauro, Shahdadkot, Umerkot, Sanghar, Mithi, Badin, Jacobabad, Sakrand, Matiari and Thatta. Traffic remained suspended on the National Highway, Indus Highway, Mehran Highway, Thar Coal Road, and the Sindh-Punjab and Sindh-Balochistan border routes, with only ambulances being allowed to pass. In Tando Muhammad Khan, local Jamaat-e-Islami leader Akram Baig was detained by police but was later released following negotiations. Sindh Emir Kashif Saeed Sheikh addressed sit-ins at the Gwadar Motorway Ali Shah Bypass and Larkana, saying the petroleum levy and government policies had made life unbearable for ordinary citizens. Additional sit-ins were held in Kandhkot, Ghotki, Hyderabad, Badin and Sukkur, while protesters also blocked the National Highway at Sakrand beneath the Benazir Flyover. Demonstrations continued in Tando Adam and Tando Jan Muhammad.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, JI Central KP Emir Abdul Wasi led protesters in blocking the Peshawar Motorway Toll Plaza. Party caravans from different districts reached protest sites across the province, while sit-ins were also staged at the Charsadda and Swabi Anbar interchanges. Traffic remained blocked on the Motorway, Indus Highway, Hazara Motorway, Swat Motorway and the Pak-Afghan Highway.
A protest sit-in was also held in Charsadda, while in Swabi the demonstration was led by Central KP General Secretary Sabir Hussain Awan and Swabi district Emir Mufti Murad Ahmad. At the Peshawar Motorway Interchange, Abdul Wasi, Peshawar district Emir Bahrullah Khan Advocate and other leaders addressed participants.
In Abbottabad, a sit-in led by Hazara Emir Abdul Razzaq Abbasi resulted in the closure of the Karakoram Highway. In Upper Dir, protesters led by district Emir Sahibzada Fasihullah blocked the main road, while in Mohmand the Peshawar-Mohmand-Bajaur Road at Mian Mandi was closed, with large participation from residents, students and social activists. A protest sit-in was also held in Chitral against rising petroleum prices and public hardships.
In Balochistan, protesters blocked the Mian Ghundi-Karachi Road in Quetta. Sit-ins also disrupted traffic in Khuzdar, where the main road remained closed, and on the Loralai-Multan Road in Loralai. Demonstrations were likewise held in Chaman, Hub and Ziarat.
Across Punjab, demonstrations continued in numerous cities. In Multan, a protest rally was taken out at Seedan Wala Bypass under the leadership of Syed Zeeshan Akhtar and Sohaib Ammar Siddiqui, while protesters in Shujaabad blocked Thana Chowk. Bhai Pheru Road in Kasur and the GT Road at Muridke in Sheikhupura were also closed.
In Toba Tek Singh, Jamaat-e-Islami Central Punjab Deputy Emir Rana Abdul Waheed led a sit-in on the main road. Demonstrations also continued on the main road in West Faisalabad. In Sahiwal, JI Deputy Secretary Sheikh Usman Farooq led a sit-in on the GT Road. Protest rallies were also held in Bahawalnagar under district Emir Arslan Khan Khakwani, while reports of police action against protesters emerged from Wazirabad. Demonstrations were also held in Okara, Jhang, Narowal, Khanewal, Layyah and Bahawalpur.
In Nankana Sahib, Central Punjab Deputy Secretary General Rana Tuhfa Dastgir Ahmad led workers towards protest venues, while in Jaranwala another convoy was led by Deputy Secretary General Basim Saeed Chaudhry. In Dijkot, a caravan from PP-107, headed by district Emir Yasir Iqbal Khara Advocate, also joined the protests.
Speakers warned that the public would no longer be left at the mercy of the current rulers and said the party was fully prepared to mobilize supporters on the call of Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman if their demands were not met.