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ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Thursday warned that the JI would expand its ongoing sit-ins into a nationwide wheel-jam and shutter-down strike the week after 12th Rabiul Awwal (August 26) if the government failed to abolish the petroleum levy.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he said the party would, in addition, establish protest camps across the country in support of its campaign. He said the JI could also march on Islamabad on foot if the government failed to respond to its demands.
Rehman said he would address the sit-in in Lahore on Thursday, while a public gathering would be held at the Karachi protest venue on Friday.
The JI chief said inflation had severely affected ordinary citizens, while the “Form 47 rulers” had failed to deliver basic services. He described the petroleum levy as an unjustified “extortionary tax”, saying consumers were paying around Rs80 per litre under the levy.
