JI chief announces nationwide strike, long march towards Islamabad after 12 Rabiul Awwal

Naeem says three ongoing sit-ins would continue, while protest camps would also be established in different cities

LAHORE:

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Sunday announced that the party would continue its sit-in until the withdrawal of the petroleum levy, followed by a shutter-down strike after Rabiul Awwal 12, protest camps in different cities and, subsequently, a long march towards Islamabad.

Speaking at a press conference on the eighth day of the sit-in, Rehman said the JI’s campaign had entered a decisive phase and that the party intended to take the movement to its logical conclusion.

He said the three ongoing sit-ins would continue, while protest camps would also be established in different cities. He added that Mehfil-e-Milad and Seerat conferences would be held at the protest sites on the night between Rabiul Awwal 11 and 12.

The JI chief said a major public gathering would be held at the sit-in venue on Sunday night and appealed to Lahore residents to attend. Delegations representing different sections of society would also visit the protest site, he added.

Rehman alleged that locally produced diesel was being sold at the price of imported diesel, allowing refineries to earn excessive profits. He said the government and bureaucracy were aware of profiteering in petroleum products.

“Even during the war, people are being made to pay more for petroleum products while only a few are benefiting,” he said, adding that the burden of inflation was being borne by the public, students, young people and farmers.

He also alleged that mafias were operating across the country and accused the government and sugar mill owners of profiteering from the sugar crisis. He said the government had imported 765,000 tonnes of sugar, citing a shortage.

Rehman reiterated that the JI was a peaceful political party and did not seek to cause hardship to anyone. He said peaceful protests by citizens on roads were creating pressure on the government, while violent protests only resulted in arrests and losses before political leaders eventually returned to negotiations.

Read more: JI announces protest against fuel price hikes

He rejected the government’s claim that the JI’s sit-ins were responsible for an increase in petroleum prices. “Had there been no sit-ins, prices would have been increased several times more,” he said.

Rehman said the JI was ready for talks if the government engaged seriously, but made it clear that the sit-in would continue until the petroleum levy was withdrawn.

Responding to a question about former prime minister Imran Khan’s medical check-up, he said the government should have fully implemented the court’s order in this regard.