JI holds sit-ins in Lahore, Karachi against petroleum levy

A march led by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Ameer Munim Zafar Khan reached the Sindh Governor's House on Sunday, where party workers staged a sit-in to protest against the petroleum levy and what they described as excessive taxation.

Containers were placed on the road outside the Governor's House, blocking access to the area, while a heavy contingent of Rangers and police personnel was deployed.

JI workers raised slogans against the federal government and demanded the withdrawal of the petroleum levy and other taxes. Party leaders continued negotiations with police officials and requested the removal of the containers to allow the protesters to proceed towards the Governor's House.

Addressing thousands of participants, Munim Zafar Khan said the JI had reached the Governor's House to raise the voice of the people and protect their rights. He claimed that Rs1,220 billion had been collected from the public in the form of petroleum levy in 2024, while the government had set a target of collecting Rs1,438 billion through various taxes.

The JI leader alleged that the government was continuously increasing the tax burden on citizens and said the party would not allow what he called a system of oppression and coercion to continue. He also criticized the business arrangements involving independent power producers (IPPs), saying the JI had repeatedly raised its voice against issues affecting electricity consumers.

He criticized the federal and provincial governments over the situation in Karachi and alleged that institutions including the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) were contributing to the growing burden on citizens. Referring to political leaders, he criticized what he called the government’s excessive spending and protocol, while alleging that elected representatives were protecting each other’s interests instead of addressing public problems.

The JI Karachi chief also raised the issue of the killing of Mir Raza, asking the provincial government and law enforcement agencies to clarify who was protecting those responsible for the killing. He demanded justice for Mir Raza’s family and called for the arrest of the perpetrators.

Munim Zafar Khan said the JI stood with the people of Karachi and would continue its campaign for the basic rights of the city’s residents. He said protests were being held in different parts of the country, including outside governor houses and the Punjab Chief Minister’s House, and vowed that the movement against what he termed an oppressive system would continue.

“We will not allow the federal government to snatch away public rights,” he said, adding that the JI would continue its struggle until the demands of the people were addressed. The protesters remained outside the Governor's House as party leaders continued efforts to negotiate with the authorities.

Protest In Lahore

In Lahore, a large number of party workers staged a sit-in at Faisal Chowk on The Mall on Sunday. JI Central Punjab Ameer Javed Kasuri addressed the protesters and demanded an end to what he described as “extortion” in the name of the petroleum levy. He said the government would have to stop imposing additional financial burdens on the people and called for an end to what he termed government extravagance.

Kasuri also criticized the purchase of expensive official aircraft and other government luxuries, saying public money should be spent on providing relief to citizens.

JI Ameer Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman also arrived at Faisal Chowk and addressed the participants. He said people across Pakistan had peacefully blocked major highways to protest against rising prices and excessive taxation. He said JI was acting as the voice of the people across the country, adding that large-scale protests were also under way outside the Governor's House in Karachi and in Peshawar.

Hafiz Naeem said the people were facing severe difficulties because of rising inflation and claimed that many families were struggling to afford even two meals a day.

He strongly criticized repeated increases in petrol prices and demanded that the government withdraw the increase in the petroleum levy. “The people are being deprived of their basic needs while the rulers are unwilling to give up their privileges,” he said.

The JI chief also criticized the political elite over taxation, alleging that landlords associated with the ruling party did not pay their due share of taxes on agricultural land while taxes were being imposed on young people and ordinary citizens. He said the government’s committee formed to address the issue would not be acceptable to the JI unless it resulted in a reduction in petrol prices.

He rejected what he described as delaying tactics and demanded the complete abolition of petroleum levy taxes. He also asked citizens to compare their electricity bills from July last year with those from July this year to understand the impact of rising charges and taxes. 

Hafiz Naeem announced that JI’s sit-in campaign would continue across Pakistan until the government took concrete steps to provide relief to the people. He said the protesters had not gathered merely for a symbolic demonstration and vowed that the party would continue its struggle until its demands were addressed.

The JI leadership said the nationwide protests would continue with full force and called for the withdrawal of petroleum levy and an end to what it termed unnecessary government expenditure and privileges.