Summary Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has announced a long march towards Islamabad on Sept. 20 against inflation, petroleum levy and rising fuel prices.
(Web Desk) - Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has announced a long march towards Islamabad on Sept. 20, escalating the party’s ongoing campaign against inflation, petroleum levy and rising prices of petroleum products.
Addressing an anti-inflation protest gathering in Gujranwala, Hafiz Naeem said the Sept. 20 march would be “historic”, predicting participation from people across the country.
He strongly criticised the federal government over the rising cost of living and warned Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif against ignoring growing public anger.
“Listen to the people’s anger,” Hafiz Naeem said while addressing the prime minister. Referring to former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, he added: “Hasina Wajid got a plane; you will not even get that.”
The remarks represented a sharp escalation in the JI chief’s rhetoric as the party seeks to increase pressure on the government over fuel prices, taxation and the cost-of-living crisis.
Hafiz Naeem demanded the abolition of the petroleum levy and relief for consumers, arguing that higher fuel prices have a cascading impact on transport, industry, businesses and the prices of essential commodities.
Meanwhile, participants at Jamaat-e-Islami’s ongoing sit-in in Rawalpindi faced heavy rain and strong winds, which reportedly damaged the screen system installed at the protest site. Participants subsequently listened to Hafiz Naeem’s speech through an audio system.
Despite water accumulating along the road near Liaquat Bagh Chowk, party workers remained at the protest site and continued listening to the address.
