JI begins sit-ins outside governors' houses over inflation, fuel prices

Party workers gather outside Karachi Governor House; Zafar says JI will take issues to their logical conclusion

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Sunday began sit-ins outside governors' houses across the country, with a large number of people gathering at all four provincial headquarters as the party pressed its demands over poor governance, inflation, rising fuel prices and the petroleum levy.

The JI had initially announced a nationwide protest for Aug 9 but later postponed it to Aug 16 due to Independence Day celebrations.

Lahore Sit-in

In Lahore, a large number of JI workers marched from Masjid-i-Shuhada towards the Chief Minister’s House to protest the petroleum levy, with the party staging a sit-in at Faisal Chowk on The Mall.

The protest, led by JI Lahore emir Ziauddin Ansari Advocate, was being held outside the Chief Minister’s House, with protesters demanding the withdrawal of the petroleum levy and relief for the public.

The protest caused the closure of The Mall to traffic from Regal Chowk to Faisal Chowk.

Addressing the protesters, the government was imposing taxes on petrol and alleged that a motorcycle rider was paying around Rs20,000 a month in taxes.

چاروں صوبوں میں پیٹرولیم مصنوعات میں اضافے کے خلاف دھرنوں کا آغاز ہو گیا ہے ۔۔#JIDharnaAgainstBhattaLevy pic.twitter.com/iBCIdpKCfT

— Jamaat e Islami Pakistan (@JIPOfficial) August 16, 2026

“Petrol prices imposed on us are actually taxes,” he said, alleging that landlords and feudal elements were collecting taxes from the public while not paying their full share.

Rehman claimed that the government had collected Rs1,800-1,900 billion from people through petrol-related charges, adding that officials cited pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) when questioned about the matter.

He said the JI’s protest was not against any particular political party but against what he described as injustice being inflicted on ordinary people.

“Our issue is not with any party; it is against the oppression of the common people,” he said.

Naeem demands Rs225 petrol price

He said the sit-in would continue until the government accepted the protesters’ demands.

“Reduce petrol prices and end the levy,” Rehman said, demanding that the price of petrol be brought down to Rs225 per litre.

He said the JI wanted negotiations with the government but would only consider talks if the petroleum levy was withdrawn.

While rejecting the government’s committee formed to address the issue and would not meet it, Rehman warned that the protest movement would be expanded across the country and taken to streets and neighbourhoods.

جماعت اسلامی کے ہزاروں کارکنان نے وزیر اعلیٰ ہاؤس پنجاب کا گھیراؤ کرلیا#JIDharnaAgainstBhattaLevy pic.twitter.com/PrGhsxfUz7

— Jamaat e Islami Pakistan (@JIPOfficial) August 16, 2026

“We are ready for a prolonged sit-in,” he said, adding that any attempt by the government to interfere with the protest could turn the movement into one aimed at bringing down the government.

He said doctors and lady health workers were protesting, while farmers were also facing difficulties.

“[Prime Minister] Shehbaz Sharif and [Chief Minister] Maryam Nawaz, and those who have placed them over us, should listen: this is not governance,” he said.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=2889743691418287

Rehman said the JI was fighting the case of the Pakistani people and demanded a reduction in petrol prices.

He described the Lahore protest as the second phase of what he called a major struggle, saying the party had “made history” by blocking 510 roads on Aug 7.

Peshawar sit-in

In Peshawar, the JI also staged a sit-in against the increase in petroleum prices outside the Governor House.

The JI said an initial 15-day schedule had been prepared for the protest, with separate programmes planned for women, lawyers, farmers, traders and people from different sections of society on different days.

Addressing the sit-in, JI central deputy emir Liaquat Baloch said the protest was against what he described as “extortion” through taxes imposed on petroleum products.

He said an ideological crisis had been created in Pakistan and alleged that the 1973 Constitution had been violated and the justice system discredited.

Baloch described Pakistan as having a “hybrid system” and alleged that the public mandate had been undermined.

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Liaquat Baloch slams petrol taxes

He said a large part of the province was facing insecurity, while Balochistan was “burning” and young people were becoming disillusioned.

The closure of the Pak-Afghan border had also created difficulties for traders, he said, adding that the federal government was unwilling to give provinces their due rights and powers.

“Pakistan’s politics is at a dead end and has been overwhelmed by vested interests,” he said, alleging that the rulers had been imposed on the people through Form 47.

Baloch also criticised high electricity prices, prolonged load-shedding and what he called “extortion” through unjust taxes.

He said agriculture had been devastated and the wheel of industry was not turning.

The JI leader said young people loved Pakistan but alleged that their thinking was being changed through a deliberate plan.

He said society had become “rusted” and reiterated the party’s longstanding call for a change in the existing system.

Baloch said the ideological foundations of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa had been weakened, but expressed confidence that the people of the province would become politically conscious and achieve their goals.

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He said the JI’s protest was also against what he described as an unrestrained system.

Regarding petroleum prices, Baloch alleged that various unjust taxes were being collected on every litre of petrol while claiming that Rs145 per litre was being collected through such charges and said petrol should cost Rs225 per litre.

He said the JI had raised the issue of independent power producers (IPPs) and forced the government to reconsider its position on them.

Baloch called on the rulers to end what he described as extravagance, extortion and profiteering, and said the entire nation was ready to march towards Islamabad at a signal from the party.

 

In Karachi, a JI march led by Karachi chief Munam Zafar reached the Governor House, where the party workers were met with containers blocking the route before the building and a heavy police presence outside.

Read: JI postpones Sunday sit-ins, sets Aug 16 for nationwide protests

Following failed negotiations between JI representatives and the police over removal of the containers, party workers sat down on the road outside the Governor House.

The protesters raised slogans against the government and demanded an end to what they described as the “extortion tax” in the form of the petroleum levy.

امیر جماعت اسلامی کراچی منعم ظفر خان گورنر ہاؤس سندھ پر دھرنے کے شرکا سے خطاب فرما رہے ہیں ۔۔
Petrol Levy Khatam Kro @monemzafarkhan#JIDharnaAgainstBhattaLevy pic.twitter.com/p36PZ2hc7i

— Jamaat e Islami Karachi (@KarachiJamaat) August 16, 2026

Speaking at the sit-in, Zafar demanded abolition of the petroleum levy, saying people wanted to understand the levy and the role of independent power producers (IPPs).

He said JI had raised awareness among the public and brought the facts before them. “Whatever issue Jamaat-i-Islami raises, it takes it to its logical conclusion,” he said.

Zafar said those whose “achievements” were highlighted became worried, adding that education and health were not the issues being addressed by the authorities.

He said the people of Karachi had developed their own outlook and that JI was opposed to the existing system.

Also Read: Dialogue only solution to AJK crisis: JI chief

Zafar alleged that when a person was killed in the city, the case was given a different direction. Referring to the murder of Mir Raza, he questioned who was protecting those responsible for his killing.

He said JI stood with the people of Karachi and demanded that citizens be provided with water.

“The atmosphere for the sit-in will now develop. We will move forward as well,” he said.