Talks with JI: Govt seeks one-day delay for petroleum levy talks

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal contacted Vice-Emir of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Liaquat Baloch on Sunday, seeking a one-day postponement for the third round of talks between the government and the party, ARY News reported.

The third round of negotiations between the government and JI regarding the petroleum levy was originally scheduled for Monday, September 14.

According to JI Vice-Emir Liaquat Baloch, the Planning Minister conveyed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s message requesting that the talks on the petroleum levy be rescheduled for Tuesday.

Baloch further shared that the government has formed a main committee for dialogue with the party, along with two sub-committees specifically tasked with addressing the petroleum levy and Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

He added that talks on the petroleum levy will now take place on Tuesday, followed by discussions on the IPP issue on Wednesday.

Earlier, the JI Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has announced a long march towards Islamabad on September 20 against the petroleum levy.

Addressing a sit-in in Gujranwala, Hafiz Naeem said millions of people from across the country would march towards Islamabad on September 20 if the government failed to abolish the levy.

He said the government could place as many containers as it wanted, but the protesters would remove the containers and reach Islamabad.

Hafiz Naeem said the government claimed that petrol prices had increased because of the international market. “We understand the issue of the international market, but tell us why there are levies and heavy taxes,” he said.

He said locally produced oil was also being charged at the same rate as imported oil.

The JI chief also criticised the government over labour rights, saying workers employed at Nawaz Sharif’s mills were not getting their rights. He alleged that workers at sugar mills were also not registered.

Hafiz Naeem said mothers and sisters were being forced to work, while Maryam Nawaz, despite being a woman, was also exploiting women.

He claimed that 6,500 cases of sexual violence against women had been reported in Punjab.

Hafiz Naeem also criticised Maryam Nawaz over her visit to London, alleging that she was enjoying herself there using public money. He challenged her to disclose the complete expenses of her London trip.

He further alleged that Maryam Nawaz, her uncle and her father were exploiting poor people and declaring less income in their tax returns and statements of assets than even an ordinary businessman.