PM Shehbaz urges JI chief to postpone long march against petroleum levy

MULTAN: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday urged Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman to postpone the party’s long march against the petroleum levy for a few days.

According to the JI spokesperson, the prime minister spoke to Hafiz Naeem by phone from the United States and requested him to defer the protest. Shehbaz also offered to meet the JI chief upon his return to Pakistan and assured him of providing better relief.

Hafiz Naeem told the prime minister that the JI had been protesting against the “levy” for the past one-and-a-half months and would not withdraw the protest until the petroleum levy was abolished.

However, he said he would consult the party leadership regarding the prime minister’s request to pause the long march for a few days.

According to the JI spokesperson, Hafiz Naeem told the prime minister that a decision on the party’s future course of action would be announced in Multan following consultations.

The JI’s “Super Long March” against the petroleum levy entered its third day on Tuesday, with its train march reaching Multan.

Meanwhile, addressing a public gathering in Multan, Hafiz Naeem said the government had only one option: abolish the petroleum levy and provide relief to the public.

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He described the levy as “economic terrorism” and demanded immediate relief for the people.

“We have taken to the streets for the problems of the people,” he said.

Hafiz Naeem also spoke about rising public hardships and said people were taking their own lives due to financial difficulties.

He alleged that several political parties had failed to address public issues for decades and claimed that various “mafias” and cartels had entered politics.

He also alleged that flour and sugar mafias were operating with the help of political parties.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in New York on Monday with a small Pakistani delegation to represent Pakistan at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Shehbaz is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on September 25.