JI warns of resuming protests from Multan over petroleum levy

KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman warned on Monday that his party could resume its protest campaign from Multan at any time if Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif fails to honour his commitment on relief from high fuel prices. Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Hafiz Naeem said the government’s fuel relief package was not…

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October 5, 2026

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KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman warned on Monday that his party could resume its protest campaign from Multan at any time if Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif fails to honour his commitment on relief from high fuel prices.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Hafiz Naeem said the government’s fuel relief package was not a solution and demanded the abolition of the petroleum levy.

“Relief is not reaching everyone,” he said, claiming that the package was benefiting only 20% to 25% of the population. He said Pakistan had around 25 million motorcycles and more than four million cars, highlighting the impact of fuel prices on consumers.

JI reiterates demand to end petroleum levy

Hafiz Naeem said the government had announced monthly relief of Rs26 billion while collecting around Rs150 billion a month through fuel-related charges.

“The relief package is not the real relief; the abolition of the levy is,” he said, adding that JI had also presented proposals on how the levy could be removed.

He said public transport users were not receiving any relief under the government’s package.

Hafiz Naeem also claimed that the government had not been willing to provide relief initially and only moved towards the measure after protests and sit-ins began. He criticised opposition parties for not raising public issues, according to his remarks.

He said the party had not backed down from its demands “even for a day” and warned that the government would have to end what he described as an unfair burden on the public.

Shehbaz had promised to review issue

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had contacted Hafiz Naeem by telephone during his visit to the United States and assured him that he would look into the matter after returning to Pakistan.

Following that assurance, Hafiz Naeem had announced the postponement of JI’s long march from Karachi after it reached Multan.

The JI chief said the prime minister should fulfil his promise and demonstrate responsibility.

He added that JI had set Oct. 7 as the deadline for its activities related to Gaza and would announce its future course of action afterwards.

JI has been leading protests across Pakistan since mid-August, demanding a reduction in the petroleum levy following substantial increases in petrol and diesel prices linked to energy supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict.

The government has imposed the petroleum levy as part of its commitments under ongoing loan programmes with the International Monetary Fund.

Petrol currently carries Rs114 per litre in taxes, including an Rs80 per litre levy, while diesel carries Rs100 per litre in taxes and duties, including a Rs77.28 per litre levy. An additional Rs5 per litre climate support charge applies to both fuels.