Jamaat-e-Islami Sets Mid-November Date for Islamabad March
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announced a long march to Islamabad in mid-November after rejecting a government request for more time to address petroleum levy demands.
Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announced that his party will lead a long march toward Islamabad in mid-November if the government fails to abolish the petroleum levy and provide public relief. The decision follows a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during which the Prime Minister requested an additional seven to 10 days to address the party's demands. Naeemur Rehman rejected the extension, stating that while talks may continue, the march will not be postponed again after a previous delay in September.
The two sides remain divided over the method of relief. The government proposes a phased reduction of the levy and an expansion of subsidies, which currently benefit 12.7 million people. In contrast, Jamaat-e-Islami demands the immediate removal of the levy, which the party characterizes as extortion. To address the impasse, the government formed a six-member committee to review proposals and finalize recommendations.
Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Adviser Rana Sanaullah cited rising oil prices and global economic pressures as constraints on the government's ability to act immediately. Beyond fuel prices, Naeemur Rehman condemned the imposition of a state of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, calling it a violation of human rights and demanding its immediate withdrawal.
