JI Marches to Islamabad Over Petroleum Levy

Jamaat-i-Islami launched a protest march toward Islamabad on Sunday, demanding the government abolish the petroleum levy.

The march began at Karachi’s Cantonment Station, where party Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman addressed supporters before departing. A road caravan and a train march also set out, passing through Hyderabad, Landhi, Nawabshah, Rohri and Sukkur.

Rehman warned that if the levy was not removed, the protest could turn into a movement to oust the government. He said the levy was the highest in the region and that petrol prices could fall to around Rs200 per litre if lifted.

Security arrangements were reviewed by Islamabad police and the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences was placed on high alert ahead of the march. The government delegation met JI leaders on September 7 but failed to resolve the dispute.