JI Emir Warns of Nationwide Sit-ins if Inflation Persists, Demands Petrol at Rs225 per Litre

Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman Warns of Nationwide Sit-ins

LAHORE, July 10: Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has warned that the party will launch nationwide sit-ins and block major roads if the government does not reduce petrol prices to Rs225 per litre and provide immediate relief from soaring inflation.

Calls for Lower Petrol, Electricity and Essential Commodity Prices

Addressing a large anti-inflation protest rally on Ferozepur Road in Lahore's Ichhra area on Friday, Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman urged the government to terminate agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs), reduce electricity tariffs, and immediately lower the prices of essential commodities.

He said the people could no longer bear the burden of the rulers' extravagance, adding that the entire nation would take to the streets if the government failed to provide meaningful relief.

Youth Urged to Join Peaceful Protest Movement

The JI chief said the cost of living had become unbearable, accusing the government of imposing excessive taxes on ordinary citizens while continuing wasteful public spending.

Calling on the youth to prepare for a nationwide protest movement, he urged them to respond whenever the party issued a call by bringing their motorcycles onto the roads as part of peaceful demonstrations.

Criticism of Petroleum Levy and Government Spending

Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman said the government was collecting Rs118 per litre from consumers through petroleum levy and other taxes, while salaried individuals and ordinary citizens continued to shoulder the tax burden.

He added that those in power continued to enjoy lavish privileges at the public's expense instead of reducing government expenditures.

Punjab Government Comes Under Fire

Criticising the Punjab government, Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman said governance in the province had deteriorated significantly.

He stated that dozens of roads in Lahore lacked proper public transport, farmers were facing severe difficulties, healthcare services remained inadequate, and nearly 10 million children in Punjab were still out of school.

Questioning the provincial government's development claims, he asked Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to explain why government schools were being sold and why millions of children remained deprived of education.

Demand for Power Sector Reforms

Reiterating Jamaat-e-Islami's long-standing demand for reforms in the power sector, Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman said successive governments had favoured the IPP lobby by paying billions of rupees for electricity that was never produced.

He called for affordable electricity and gas while demanding that the prices of essential food items be restored to the levels that existed before the Iran-US conflict.

Central Shura Meeting to Decide Future Strategy

The JI Emir announced that he had convened an emergency meeting of Jamaat-e-Islami's Central Shura at Mansoorah on Saturday to discuss inflation and the country's overall political and economic situation.

He said the meeting would determine the party's future course of action and urged the public to prepare for a sustained democratic movement to secure their rights.

Party Leaders Attend the Protest

The protest rally was also addressed by Lahore Emir Ziauddin Ansari, Lahore Secretary Azhar Bilal, and Central Punjab Secretary General Babar Rashid.

Deputy emirs Khalid Ahmed Butt, Engineer Ikhlaq, and Chaudhry Muhammad Shaukat, along with JI Youth Lahore President Jibran Butt, Deputy Secretary Lahore Amir Nisar Khan, Shahid Naveed Malik, South Lahore Emir Mirza Abdul Rasheed, Ahmad Salman Baloch, Sardar Noor Ahmad Dogar, Sheikh Muhammad Anwar, Zahid Imran Korotana, and other party leaders, were also present at the rally.