The petroleum levy is linked to government incompetence, not the global market, with Rs1,567 billion collected from the public in one year, Jamaat-e-Islami chief says.
KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 9th Sep, 2026) Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman has given the government an ultimatum to launch a long march on Islamabad if the petroleum levy is not abolished.
Speaking at a press conference in Karachi, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman said that if the government did not change its attitude, the Jamaat-e-Islami would intensify its struggle.
Sit-ins by the party at 32 locations have continued for 25 days, while the government has sought three days for negotiations.
He said the petroleum levy was linked not to the global market but to government incompetence.
He added that Rs1,567 billion had been collected from the public in the levy in one year. If petrol prices increased further, the protest movement would be intensified. Contacts with opposition parties were ongoing, and the future course of action would be announced after the September 10 negotiations.
If the government maintained its rigid stance, a call would be given for a long march.
The Jamaat-e-Islami chief said basic facilities were unavailable and mafias ruled the country.
The economic situation could not improve without providing relief to the people.
Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman said the government had contacted the party during the sit-ins, but they had declined.
He said the government had sought proposals for reducing petroleum product prices, and the party was presenting proposals because it was serious about negotiations.
He said the petroleum levy was not connected to the global market but resulted from government incompetence.
The party had contacted opposition parties to increase pressure on the government.
He asked whether experts did not know how to reduce prices, adding that the Sindh Assembly had passed a resolution calling for the abolition of the levy.
The Jamaat-e-Islami chief said that although the party had differences with the Pakistan Peoples Party, it should speak to the government on the issue. If necessary, the Jamaat-e-Islami would contact the PPP leadership to seek the levy’s abolition.
