JI warns fuel protest could oust government

Naeem vows sit-in will continue until demands accepted

LAHORE:

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Sunday said the party's sit-in against the petroleum levy and rising fuel prices would continue until the government accepted its demands, warning that any attempt to block the protest could turn it into a movement to oust the government.

The JI had earlier announced that it would stage the sit-in outside the Punjab Chief Minister's House in Lahore. However, the protest began on Sunday at Faisal Chowk on Mall Road instead of the Chief Minister's House.

JI sources said the sit-in would gradually be shifted towards the Chief Minister's House.

Addressing the protesters at Faisal Chowk, Naeem said the petroleum levy was an "imposed tax" on the people and accused the government of increasing taxes along with petrol prices.

He said the JI would not go to Islamabad to attend a government briefing on the issue. "We do not need a briefing from a government committee. Whoever wants to talk should come to the sit-in and speak to us," he said.

The JI chief rejected the committee comprising federal ministers constituted by the government and said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif should know that his party would not travel to Islamabad for a briefing.

Naeem alleged that the governments of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had failed to provide effective governance and had "destroyed the entire system".

He demanded withdrawal of the petroleum levy and called for petrol to be sold at Rs225 per litre. He said the government should reduce its own expenditure and withdraw privileges enjoyed by the elite instead of placing an additional financial burden on the public.

The JI chief alleged that the government was collecting billions of rupees from ordinary consumers through petroleum taxes while influential landlords and feudal politicians were not being taxed adequately.

He also criticised the government's claim that the petroleum levy was linked to conditions imposed by the International Monetary Fund, saying the ruling elite should first reduce its own expenditures.

Naeem said the party's campaign was not directed against any particular political party but against what he described as inflation, injustice and anti-people policies. He said the JI would not withdraw from the protest until its demands were accepted.

He claimed that doctors, lady health workers and other government employees were also facing problems and said their participation in protests reflected growing public dissatisfaction with government policies.

The JI chief also criticised the Punjab government for spending public money on publicity campaigns, while alleging that corruption had increased at both the provincial and federal levels.

Referring to the political system, he said the JI would continue its struggle for what he called the rights of the people and claimed that the party had competent people capable of running the country.

The protest in Lahore began after Asr prayers. A large number of JI workers and supporters attended the sit-in, carrying party flags and placards against inflation and rising fuel prices.