ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has demanded the complete withdrawal of the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL).

He made the demand while leading his party’s protest march towards Islamabad. The JI has been protesting against high fuel prices and the petroleum levy.

The party began its train march from Karachi on September 20. Hafiz Naeem led JI workers from Karachi Cantonment Station towards the federal capital. The march also included stops in several cities along the route.

The JI had earlier held sit-ins in different cities across the country. The party ended its Karachi sit-in before starting the march towards Islamabad. It said the protest movement would continue until its demands were addressed.

Hafiz Naeem said the government was placing an increasing financial burden on the public. He said the JI had held several rounds of talks with government representatives.

According to the JI chief, the party had suggested areas where government spending could be reduced. He also criticised government spending on what he described as unnecessary expenses.

The government and JI had agreed to discuss ways to reduce the petroleum levy. Committees were formed to examine possible measures for providing relief to consumers.

However, the JI later rejected the government’s fuel relief proposals. The party maintained that temporary relief was not enough and demanded the abolition of the levy.

Hafiz Naeem said the government was offering around Rs25 billion in monthly relief. However, he argued that the petroleum levy itself should be withdrawn.

He also claimed that the government collected Rs1,567 billion through the petroleum levy during the previous year. The figure was cited by the JI chief while explaining the party’s demand.

The government has continued talks with the JI over the issue. Five rounds of discussions had taken place before the march, according to the JI.

The government also contacted JI leadership again before the Islamabad march. Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal sought further talks with the party’s representatives.

JI leaders said negotiations could continue, but the protest would remain in place until the petroleum levy was withdrawn.

The JI’s march is part of its wider campaign against fuel prices and the petroleum levy. The party has called for relief for consumers and changes in the current petroleum taxation structure.

In other news read more about Government Again Contacts JI Over its Protest Against Petroleum Levy

The protest movement is now moving towards Islamabad, where the JI plans to continue raising its demands. The government and the party remain engaged in discussions over the levy and possible relief measures.