Sindh dubs petrol price rise as 'picking people's pockets' by govt
The Sindh government has dubbed massive surge in prices of petroleum products as “picking the people’s pockets” by the federal government, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
While reacting to the Jamaat-i-Islami’s sit-in in Karachi when has entered its 24th day on Tuesday, Sindh government spokeswoman Sadia Javed questioned the effectiveness of the Jamaat’s protest.
In a post uploaded on X platform, Sadia Javed said “23 days of sit-in, petrol up 34 rupees, result: zero! Is this a protest against the government or political drama to show off to the public?”
She further said Jamaat-e-Islami sat on the roads, while the government kept picking the people's pockets.
23 دن کا دھرنا، پٹرول 34 روپے مہنگا نتیجہ صفر!
— Sadiajaved (@Sadiajavedppp) September 7, 2026
یہ حکومت کے خلاف احتجاج ہے یا عوام کو دکھانے کے لیے سیاسی ڈرامہ؟
جماعتِ اسلامی سڑکوں پر بیٹھی رہی، حکومت عوام کی جیب کاٹتی رہی! https://t.co/nU65rRqP7G
Meanwhile, the JI also continued its protest sit-in against levy tax of petroleum products at Faisal Chowk on Mall Road in Lahore which entered its 24th day.
On Monday, the first round of negotiations between the government and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) over the petroleum levy and rising fuel prices was held in Islamabad.
Federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah, Ali Pervez Malik and Bilal Azhar Kayani held talks with JI team led by Liaquat Baloch as the government sought proposals from the party on providing relief to the people.
Speaking after the meeting, Ahsan said the government had asked Jamaat-e-Islami to submit its suggestions, which would be conveyed to the relevant ministries for consideration. He said no government wanted protests to take place in the country and added the government was also making efforts to provide relief to the people despite facing difficulties.
Ahsan said Pakistan’s economy had previously been affected by the US-Iran conflict and expressed hope that a reduction in regional tensions would also help bring down oil prices. “The government always welcomes good proposals with an open heart,” he said, adding that the government’s constraints were different from those of other political parties.
Baloch said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had formed a team to negotiate with Jamaat-e-Islami and that the party had presented its proposals to the government team. “We have placed everything in front of the government team,” Baloch said, adding the JI had informed the government that the petroleum levy was adversely affecting the economy. He said the party had presented six proposals and that the first round of talks had taken place in a pleasant atmosphere.