Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has announced a march towards Islamabad on September 20 against the petroleum levy.

Addressing a public gathering in Gujranwala on Friday, Rehman warned that the party’s protest would enter a “decisive phase” in the federal capital if the government failed to withdraw the levy before the march.

He said caravans from across Pakistan would travel to Islamabad. He also urged the government to provide immediate relief to citizens.

“If the petroleum levy is not abolished before the long march begins, the decision will be made on the streets of Islamabad,” Rehman said.

He added that failure to meet public demands could push the JI to launch a movement against the government.

JI Expands Petroleum Levy Protest

The government currently collects Rs114 per litre in taxes and duties on petrol and Rs100 per litre on diesel, according to the figures cited by the JI chief.

Meanwhile, JI sit-ins against the petroleum levy in Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi and several other locations entered their 27th day on Friday.

Rehman also announced that he would address a women’s public gathering in Islamabad on Saturday. He said the party would expand its ongoing sit-ins.

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Earlier, he chaired a meeting of JI leaders from across the country at Mansoorah in Lahore. The meeting focused on the next phase of the party’s protest movement.

Rehman Criticises Government Policies

During his Gujranwala address, Rehman described the JI as a source of hope for the people.

He criticised what he called the growing influence of bureaucracy, feudal landlords and powerful families in Pakistan.

According to Rehman, the working class continues to face economic hardship. He also said many children remain deprived of education and are forced into labour.

The JI chief further criticised the Punjab government over violence and exploitation against women.

He alleged that around 6,500 related cases had been registered in Punjab but said convictions had been secured in only a small number of cases.

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Rehman also challenged Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz over her recent remarks concerning travel to London on a government aircraft.

He called on her to provide the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) with a complete account of her income and expenditure.

The JI chief also criticised the Sharif and Zardari families. He alleged that political elites had contributed to the exploitation of poor citizens.

He further claimed that more than 40% of Punjab’s population lives in poverty.

Rehman Questions Petroleum Levy Collections

Rehman criticised the government over petroleum levy collections. He claimed that the government had collected Rs1,567 billion from citizens through the levy.

He questioned the need for additional taxes while millions of people still lack adequate access to healthcare and education.

The JI leader also criticised successive governments for policies benefiting independent power producers (IPPs).

At the same time, he questioned government spending after the 18th Amendment transferred several powers and departments to the provinces.

Rehman also called for an end to interest-based financial practices. He referred to a Federal Shariat Court ruling and argued that even a partial reduction in interest payments could save the national exchequer thousands of billions of rupees.

JI Plans Wider Protest Movement

The JI chief said his party had already raised these issues during talks with the government.

However, he claimed that the authorities had failed to provide satisfactory answers.

“If the rulers have no answers, the people will now demand answers from them,” he said.

The JI had announced sit-ins in all provincial capitals on August 16 to protest the petroleum levy.

The party also called a nationwide strike for September 3.

Now, the September 20 Islamabad march is set to become the next major phase of the JI’s campaign against the petroleum levy.