KARACHI: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Wednesday said the party had handed over a comprehensive working plan to the government on reducing the prices of petroleum products.
Speaking at a press conference in Karachi, Hafiz Naeem said the JI had held negotiations with the government, during which the government’s representatives sought suggestions on how petroleum prices could be reduced.
“We have formed a technical committee that has been working on the issue,” he said, adding that the JI was only providing assistance to the government to reduce petrol prices, while controlling the prices was ultimately the government’s responsibility.
Hafiz Naeem said the JI had taken the issue seriously and prepared detailed proposals because it was a party of educated and technically qualified people.
“We have given the government parties a complete working plan. Now it is up to the government to decide what steps it takes,” he said.
He criticised the government for increasing petroleum prices despite ongoing negotiations with the JI, saying the authorities should not have raised fuel prices while talks were underway.
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Hafiz Naeem said he had also spoken with Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar, who had assured him of support. He said a resolution on the issue had also been passed by the Sindh Assembly.
Warning of Islamabad March
Hafiz Naeem warned that the JI would announce a plan to march on Islamabad if the government failed to withdraw the petroleum levy.
Call for end to interest-based economic system
Hafiz Naeem also called on the government to reduce the policy rate and reiterated the JI’s demand for an end to interest-based economic practices.
Referring to a 1990 decision of the Federal Shariat Court on the issue of interest, he said successive governments had failed to eliminate the system despite repeated calls for its abolition.
