LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Friday announced a march toward the Punjab Chief Minister’s House in Lahore on Aug. 9, as part of protests against rising petroleum prices and inflation.
Addressing a protest rally in Lahore, Hafiz Naeem said the government had acknowledged the failure of the existing system and announced that JI workers would march toward the CM House and stage a sit-in. He added that similar sit-ins would be held outside governors’ houses in other provinces.
JI held nationwide demonstrations against increases in petroleum prices and inflation, with protests reported in major cities including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta. Demonstrations were also held in several other districts, causing traffic disruptions in some areas.
In Islamabad, clashes occurred between police and JI workers during an attempt to clear a road blockage at Chungi No. 26. JI leader Liaquat Baloch criticized police actions, saying authorities should focus on their duties instead of harassing party workers.
Hafiz Naeem accused the government of increasing petroleum prices and taxes while failing to reduce prices when global rates declined.
He claimed the government had collected billions of rupees through petroleum levy and used such measures to hide administrative failures and corruption.
The JI chief demanded that the price of petrol be reduced to Rs225 per litre, calling for the withdrawal of petroleum levy and a reduction in taxes to provide relief to the public.