JI Defies Govt Ahead Of Islamabad Petroleum Levy March

News Desk
LAHORE: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) has dug its heels in regarding its planned anti-inflation protest, refusing to call off the march toward Islamabad unless the federal government completely abolishes the heavy petroleum levy.
Addressing a press conference at Mansoorah on the eve of the demonstration, JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announced that protest caravans from across Pakistan would begin moving toward the federal capital, setting the stage for a tense political standoff.
The ruling administration currently levies Rs114 per litre in taxes and duties on petrol and Rs100 per litre on diesel, triggering widespread public resentment.
The religious party has sustained pressure since August 16 by organizing continuous sit-ins across major urban centers including Lahore, Peshawar, and Karachi.
The impending confrontation poses a significant governance challenge for the administration, which is already grappling with strict economic stabilization benchmarks and soaring inflation.
The protest movement underscores mounting public anger over cost-of-living pressures, as citizens bear the brunt of exorbitant energy taxes and utility tariffs required under macroeconomic adjustments.
As protest convoys prepare to converge on the capital, authorities are reviewing legal and administrative measures, especially in light of recent Islamabad High Court rulings concerning fundamental rights and public movement.
Further developments are expected as both the state administration and party leadership brace for potential gridlocks.