Jamaat-e-Islami has given the government a short window to act on the petroleum levy. Senior leader Liaqat Baloch said on Thursday that officials asked the party to wait three more days before deciding on a final call for a long march to Islamabad.
Speaking after the second round of talks at Punjab House, Baloch made it clear that the party wants real relief for ordinary people on fuel prices. He said JI has placed six specific demands before the government but faced only bureaucratic hurdles and vague replies. According to him, the officials kept “beating around the bush” instead of offering concrete solutions.
Earlier this week JI had already set a September 10 deadline. The party warned that if the levy was not withdrawn, sit-ins currently underway in 32 cities would turn into a long march on the capital. JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has also spoken with Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. Both leaders expressed support for the campaign against high fuel taxes and rising inflation.
Baloch pointed out that the government has collected more revenue from the petroleum levy than the original budget target. He criticised the authorities for raising prices when global rates go up but refusing to cut them when international prices fall. The party claims people are paying Rs85 per litre as levy and a total of Rs130 in various taxes on every litre of petrol.
He highlighted the heavy burden on common citizens, noting that even a student or a motorcyclist ends up paying hundreds of rupees daily in what he called an “extortion tax.” The same rate applies to both a small bike rider and the owner of a large luxury vehicle.
JI has made it clear that the struggle will continue until meaningful relief is provided. The next few days will decide whether the government offers concrete measures or the party proceeds with its planned long march to Islamabad.
