LAHORE: The Jamaat-i-Islami on Saturday invited political and opposition parties to join its sit-ins and rallies against the petroleum levy while announcing a nationwide signature campaign and warning of a resumption of its long march if the government failed to provide relief.
Addressing a press conference at Mansoorah on Saturday, JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said the JI workers remained mobilised and would continue their campaign until the petroleum levy was abolished. He also announced rallies across the country and a nationwide signature drive while warning the government of renewed street protests if it failed to provide relief.
He said the party would hold rallies in Charsadda, Swabi, Karak, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Larkana, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Karachi and other cities. A detailed schedule would be announced later. He also announced a nationwide signature campaign against the levy, saying JI would collect signatures from the public as part of its campaign.
Mr Naeem said the government had used traditionaltacticsto preventthe JI from holding its Lahore rally a day earlier but party workers managed to reach the venue despite the restrictions. He said the rally demonstrated that the party workers were active and would continue their struggle on public issues.
He invited political and opposition par-ties to join JPs sit-ins and rallies to raise issues affecting the public.
On the petroleum levy, the JI leader said the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) did not require the government to impose the levy. He said he expected the prime minister to hold talks with his party after returning to the country and abolish the levy. He said the party had postponed its protest for a few days at the PM’s request.
‘Jamaat-i-1slami cannot throw its workers and the people into the fire,’ he said, adding that the party was pursuing the issue while seeking to avoid casualties and losses. He called for a reduction in government expenditure, saying the rulers should use 1,300cc vehicles and cut their expenses. He also demanded an end to interest-based financing at the federal level and said that there was no justification for allocating federal funds to provincial departments after the 18th Amendment.
Reacting to calls for governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mr Naeem said the JI would strongly oppose any such move.
He described peaceful protest as the constitutional right of Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf and declared support for that right.
He said JI had also taken the petroleum levy issue to the constitutional court. However, he criticised the judicial system, saying that when public issues were taken to the courts, judges often went on leave and people remained deprived of justice despite judges receiving facilities from state resources.