Sindh Minister Backs JI Protest Against Petroleum Levy

News Desk
KARACHI: Sindh Provincial Minister for Local Government, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, has extended unexpected political support to Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) upcoming protest march against soaring petroleum levies, emphasizing that the demonstrators are exercising a democratic right.
Addressing the media in Karachi, Shah stated that the provincial government acknowledges public concerns regarding rising inflation and noted that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has also consistently raised his voice against the heavy taxation on petroleum products.
Highlighting the peaceful nature of the opposition party’s agenda, the senior minister remarked that Jamaat-e-Islami’s political movement is entirely non-violent and democratic.
He maintained that political parties operate within their constitutional bounds when organizing public demonstrations to voice grievances over economic hardships, differentiating their approach from disruptive agitations that typically paralyze civic life.
The endorsement from a key provincial cabinet member reflects a broader political maneuvering within Sindh, where mainstream parties are increasingly sensitive to public backlash over escalating utility bills and fuel prices.
With inflation remaining a central pain point for working-class households across Pakistan, political alignments on economic relief measures are shifting, creating unusual consensus points between ideologically distinct parties like the PPP and JI.

As preparations for the protest march continue, political analysts are closely monitoring whether this verbal support will translate into administrative facilitation for the demonstrators. Further statements from both PPP leadership and Jamaat-e-Islami are expected in the coming days as the opposition intensifies pressure on the federal government to reconsider its petroleum pricing and taxation framework.