JI launches third phase of protest campaign against petroleum levy

Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi chief Monem Zafar Khan on Friday warned that the party would resume its march towards Islamabad from Multan if the federal government failed to provide meaningful relief from what he described as an unjust petroleum levy.

Addressing a sit-in outside Noorani Kabab House on Shahrah-e-Qaideen, Zafar said nationwide protests have been held at more than 150 locations on the appeal of JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, marking the beginning of the third phase of the party's campaign against the levy.

"We postponed our march towards Islamabad from Multan on the prime minister's assurance, but all options remain open," he said, adding that JI workers and supporters in Karachi would join the march whenever the party leadership issued the call.

Zafar announced a public outreach and signature campaign across Karachi from October 24 to 31, with camps to be established in neighbourhoods and streets to mobilise support against the levy.

He said the government's relief package, announced following JI's campaign, was inadequate and amounted to "a drop in the ocean".

The JI leader accused the government of burdening citizens through petroleum taxes while maintaining lavish official privileges.