JI stages nationwide sit-ins over high fuel levy, inflation for second straight day

• Hafiz Naeem says JI will further intensify their protest.
• Monem Zafar says sit-ins to continue until their demands met.
• Rulers either step down or meet their demands: Javed Fahim.
  

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) staged sit-ins in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and other major cities on Monday, protesting against high petroleum levies, soaring inflation and excessively bloated bills for a second consecutive day.

The protests formed the next phase of the religio-political party’s nationwide campaign after demonstrations were held at hundreds of locations earlier this month.

In the latest review on Thursday, the government increased the levy on diesel by Re1 to Rs77.28 per litre. The authorities, however, kept the levy on petrol and kerosene unchanged at Rs80 and Rs20.36 per litre, respectively. Soaring inflation has pushed even essential items beyond the reach of the poor. Soaring inflation has pushed even essential items beyond the reach of the poor.

Addressing the participants of a sit-in in Lahore, JI Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman said that the peaceful sit-ins in all four provinces marked the beginning of a protest movement. He said that the JI will further intensify the sit-ins.

“The JI has devised a strategy for the sit-ins,” the JI emir said, expressing satisfaction with the strength of the protests across the country.

In Karachi, addressing a sit-in outside the Governor House, JI Karachi women wing leader Javed Fahim slammed the government, saying that the rulers claimed the country could not run without imposing the of petroleum levy and taxes.

“The rulers have accepted their failure,” she said, adding that they should now either step down or meet their demands.

The JI leader warned that they would stage sit-ins on all roads across the port city if their demands were not fulfilled.

Talking to Truth Wire, JI Karachi chapter Emir Monem Zafar Khan said that their demands were very clear, saying that the masses were being robbed in the name of petroleum levy. He said the fuel prices should be slashed and demanded the forensic audit of the independent power producers (IPPs).

Tackling inflation should be the government’s top responsibility, he said, adding that their sit-ins would continue until their demands were fulfilled.