KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has announced that talks with the government regarding the Petroleum Levy will begin on Monday, ARY News reported.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, Mansoorah, the JI Chief stated that the government contacted the party following the nationwide strike held on September 3.
He criticized the government for failing to pass on relief to the public when international oil prices drop. He emphasized that the petroleum levy is entirely unrelated to global market prices, labeling it as “extortion money” taken from the masses.
Hafiz Naeem also alleged that the government favors banks regarding domestic loans, adding that the excessive expenditures of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) personnel impose an additional burden on citizens.
He further criticized the ruling elite for setting aside public issues while embarking on foreign trips.
Earlier, Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has announced that the party will submit its charter of demands on Thursday and collect public opinion on the petroleum levy across the country.
Addressing the Lahore sit-in, Hafiz Naeem said Jamaat-e-Islami would collect signatures from five crore people as part of its campaign.
He said the referendum would be based on “Form 45, not Form 47”.
Hafiz Naeem said Thursday’s nationwide strike was only a rehearsal and announced that he would soon give a call for a wheel-jam strike.
He also asked party workers to prepare for a long march.
The JI chief said the sit-ins would not end if the government failed to abolish the petroleum levy.
