ISLAMABAD: The fourth round of talks between the government and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), primarily focused on the petroleum levy, will be held today at 6:00 PM, ARY News reported.
The negotiations will take place at Block P of the Federal Secretariat. JI Vice-Chief Liaquat Baloch will head the delegation for Jamaat-e-Islami, while Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal will serve as the chief negotiator for the government team.
The JI delegation comprises Syed Farasat Shah, Nasrullah Randhawa, Inayat Khan, Advocate Ziauddin Ansari, and Naveed Ali Baig. The government negotiating team includes Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Rana Sanaullah, Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, and Bilal Azhar Kayani.
The dialogue originally began on September 7, triggered by JI’s demand for the total abolition of the petroleum levy. As part of its protest movement, JI has announced a march on Islamabad scheduled for September 20.
JI leaders have already rejected the government’s proposed relief package—a Rs 100 subsidy on 20 litres of petrol for motorcycles and rickshaws, and 30 litres for vehicles up to 800cc—demanding structural reductions instead. Meanwhile, JI sit-ins continue across the country.
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has rejected the government’s statement on the petroleum relief measures, with the party’s negotiating committee chief Liaquat Baloch saying the petrol relief package has been completely rejected.
Liaquat Baloch said the impression created in the government’s statement that JI had welcomed the relief measures was completely false and baseless.
He said relief could never be an alternative to abolishing the petroleum levy. He added that JI had made it clear during negotiations that artificial measures would not be acceptable.
The JI leader accused the government of spreading false information through the media to divert public pressure. He said the government’s symbolic measures would provide no benefit to the people.
“Our clear message is: abolish the levy or there will be a march on Islamabad,” Liaquat Baloch said.
