JI warns it will resume march to Islamabad

Jamaat-i-Islami warned on Thursday it will resume a long march to Islamabad unless the government abolishes an approximately Rs135-per-litre petroleum levy, threatening renewed nationwide protests.

Rs135 levy and petrol taxes

Party chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman told a press conference in Lahore the campaign would continue, adding that “no delaying tactics will be accepted.” He said caravans would head to Islamabad from across the country, public meetings were under way and a signature drive aims to collect more than 20 million names.

Rehman rejected the government’s explanation that an international lending programme constrained policy, and criticised what he described as excessive official spending, including the purchase of an aircraft by the Punjab chief minister and plans for bulletproof vehicles ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation conference next year. He also condemned the killing of three Pakistanis in Somalia, urged repatriation of the bodies and called for dialogue with PTI, warning against any “unconstitutional action” in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The party said it would restart the march from Multan if the levy is not abolished but gave no deadline for resumption.

The party said the government is currently collecting Rs114 per litre in taxes and duties on petrol and Rs100 per litre on diesel, and urged the levy’s withdrawal as relief for consumers. The march had begun on Sept. 21 but was postponed pending a meeting with the prime minister; organisers said the prime minister returned from the United Nations General Assembly this week but has not met JI leaders.