JI chief calls for strike against petrol levies

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman on Friday warned the government of a nationwide wheel-jam strike and shutter-down protest if the petroleum levy was not withdrawn, saying roads across the country would be blocked against anti-people policies of the rulers.

Addressing a major protest demonstration at Aabpara Chowk in Islamabad against the increase in petroleum prices, the Jamaat-e-Islami chief announced that the party would challenge the petroleum levy in the Constitutional Court on May 18.

He said the anti-inflation movement had formally begun from Islamabad, adding that large public gatherings would be held in Chitral on Saturday and in Upper Dir the following day. He said the party would soon announce a future course of action regarding a countrywide strike after consultations, adding that the protest campaign would intensify further after Eid.

The Jamaat-e-Islami chief said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had collected Rs8,066 billion through the petroleum levy but had not spent even Rs100 billion on petroleum infrastructure improvement.

He said the government had extracted nearly Rs6,000 billion from motorcycle users alone through the levy and added the ruling elite is using tax money for luxuries and to fill the pockets of IPP owners.

Criticising the government's economic policies, he said that Rs3,400 billion collected from taxpayers had been handed over to IPP owners. He said the federal and Punjab governments are spending public money on self-promotion instead of addressing core issues such as education, health and agriculture.