Jamaat-e-Islami warns long march to Islamabad ‘come what may’
Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman issued the warning while addressing a public sit-in on Murree Road. The protest has continued for 28 days against the petroleum levy and rising fuel prices.
He said the government must abolish the levy or face a large public mobilisation in Islamabad on September 20. He stressed that the JI would use peaceful and democratic methods and did not support violence.
“We do not believe in bullets or abuse. We will reach Islamabad peacefully and democratically and secure the rights of the people,” he said.
Government urged to end ‘Gunda tax’
The JI chief accused the government of insulting 250 million Pakistanis by increasing petroleum prices while holding talks with the party. He demanded the immediate removal of the Rs130 per litre ‘Gunda tax’.
“The government will have to abolish Rs130 per litre ‘Gunda tax.’ We will not tolerate this insult to the nation,” he said.
Rehman said protest sit-ins were taking place at around 40 locations across Pakistan, including Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi. He added that three new protest camps were being established every day.
He also said that containers and trucks could not stop the party’s movement. According to him, the government would have to decide whether to resolve the issue or face growing public anger.
“Let the government do whatever it wants. If it wants to continue negotiations, let it do so, but we will not accept a drama in the name of talks,” he said.
Demand for lower levy and government reforms
Rehman demanded an immediate reduction in the petroleum levy and an end to the annual collection of Rs1,567 billion from citizens through the levy. He also asked the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to achieve its targets and called for an end to interest-based financial practices.
The JI leader questioned federal allocations for provincial departments and urged the rulers to end their privileges. He said reducing government expenditure could save billions of rupees for the national exchequer.
Criticism of Maryam Nawaz and public assets
Referring to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s recent visit to London, Rehman questioned the use of a government aircraft for a private foreign trip. He demanded details of the expenses and said the public had the right to know how much the visit cost the national exchequer.
“The nation should be told how much burden her London visit placed on the national exchequer. Even if Maryam Nawaz paid the expenses from her own pocket, she should disclose the details. The people have the right to demand an account from their rulers,” he said.
The JI chief also criticised the Punjab government’s policy of selling public schools and basic health centres. He alleged that Maryam Nawaz was placing her nameplates on health centres after selling them to private parties.
“Selling government schools and basic health centres should be a matter of shame for any government,” he said, alleging that Maryam was putting her nameplates on basic health centres after selling them to private parties.
Rehman said the existing system had become outdated and repeated his warning about the September 20 march. He claimed that caravans from across the country would travel to Islamabad and that the public movement could not be stopped.
“The entire system has become outdated. On September 20, caravans from across the country will head towards Islamabad. This public storm cannot be stopped,” he said.
The Jamaat-e-Islami protest is putting pressure on the government over fuel prices and public spending. The situation may become more serious if negotiations fail before the announced Islamabad march.
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