JI weighs two plans for Islamabad march against petroleum levy

The train march would leave Karachi on Sept 20, reach Lahore, then head to Islamabad via GT Road on Sept 22

LAHORE:

The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Thursday finalised two proposals for the next phase of its protest movement against the petroleum levy, including a march on Islamabad and a proposed train march from Karachi.

A consultative meeting on the Islamabad march and preparations for the next phase of the protest movement was held at Mansoorah. JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman chaired the meeting, which discussed various proposals for the Islamabad march and the future course of action.

According to JI sources, the proposal to launch the next phase with a train march from Karachi has received greater support than the plan to have workers travel directly to Islamabad on September 20.

امیر جماعت اسلامی پاکستان حافظ نعیم الرحمٰن @NaeemRehmanEngr کی زیر صدارت مرکزی و صوبائی نظم کا اجلاس منعقد ہوا، جس میں پیٹرولیم لیوی کے خلاف احتجاجی تحریک کے سلسلہ میں اسلام آباد مارچ JI Islamabad March کے حوالے سے مشاورت ہوئی اور حتمی تیاریوں کا جائزہ لیا گیا

پاکستانیوں کی… pic.twitter.com/pwAaZZZOWZ

— Jamaat e Islami Pakistan (@JIPOfficial) September 17, 2026

Under the proposed plan, the train march would leave Karachi on September 20 and reach Lahore. Participants would then join JI workers from Lahore and adjoining districts and travel to Islamabad via the GT Road on September 22.

Workers from Kasur, Pakpattan, Multan and other parts of southern Punjab are also expected to reach Lahore before the convoy heads towards Islamabad.

Read More: JI demands 3% policy rate cut

Under the alternative plan, JI workers would travel from their respective cities to Islamabad on September 20, hold a march and stage a sit-in at D-Chowk.

The JI has been holding sit-ins at around 40 locations across the country, including Lahore and Karachi, for the past 33 days against the petroleum levy. The party has also staged road blockades and strikes as part of its protest campaign.

Speaking informally to senior journalists in Lahore on Thursday, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said the JI had no interest in continuing protests if the government provided relief to consumers through lower petroleum prices and a significant reduction in the petroleum levy.

He said negotiations with the government were also continuing. Still, he alleged that a lack of understanding, stubbornness and indifference among government advisers had left the JI with no option but to continue its protest.

The JI chief said the rulers would not realise the difficulties faced by the public unless pressure from the people increased.