Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has announced nationwide sit-ins against the petroleum levy and high petrol prices.
The protests will begin on August 16 across the country. The decision was announced after a special meeting of the party leadership.
The meeting was chaired by JI Amir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman. Senior party leaders also attended the meeting through video link.
Provincial leaders and chiefs from major cities participated in the discussion. They reviewed the party’s planned protest campaign and decided on a new date.
The sit-ins were initially scheduled to begin on August 9. However, the party decided to postpone the protests.
The decision was taken to allow people to participate in Independence Day celebrations. Pakistan will observe its Independence Day on August 14.
The revised protest schedule will begin on August 16. Demonstrations will take place simultaneously across all four provinces.
The JI leadership said the protests would focus on the petroleum levy. The party is also opposing what it considers high petrol prices.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announced plans for major demonstrations at key government locations. A large sit-in will be held outside the Punjab Chief Minister’s House in Lahore.
The party also plans protests outside governor houses in three other provinces. Demonstrations will take place outside the governor houses in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Balochistan.
The planned protests will therefore cover major administrative centers across the country. The party wants its demands to receive attention from the government.
The announcement comes amid concerns over the cost of petroleum products. Petrol prices have a direct effect on transportation and other household expenses.
Higher fuel costs can also increase the cost of goods and services. The JI has therefore made petroleum prices a key issue in its protest campaign.
The party leadership discussed the protest plans during its special meeting. Leaders joined the meeting from different provinces and major cities.
The postponement of the August 9 protests was presented as a scheduling decision. It will allow Independence Day activities to take place without overlapping with the demonstrations.
The new date gives the party additional time to organize its nationwide campaign. Protesters are expected to gather at designated locations on August 16.
The JI has not announced any change to the main demands of the protest. The campaign will continue to focus on the petroleum levy and petrol prices.
The protests will be held in all four provinces. This includes Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Balochistan.
The party’s decision reflects its intention to launch a coordinated nationwide campaign. The simultaneous demonstrations are expected to bring together supporters across the country.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman will lead the party’s campaign at the central level. Provincial and city-level leaders are also expected to coordinate local demonstrations.
The protests will begin after the Independence Day celebrations. The party has moved its original schedule by one week.
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The JI leadership is now preparing for the August 16 demonstrations. Further details about the protests may be announced as the date approaches.
