ISLAMABAD: The government has again contacted the Jamaat Islami leadership over the party’s protest against the petroleum levy.
The JI protesting for withdrawal of the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) and given a call for long march to Islamabad on September 20.
The government on late Friday night contacted the Jamaat leadership and urged for resolving the issue with talks.
Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal contacted JI’s deputy leader Liaquat Baloch and said that the government wants to resolve the issue with negotiations. “The government wants to hold talks with Jamaat Islami on Saturday (today)”.
“We will reply after consultations with JI Ameer Hafiz Naeem and senior leadership,” Liaquat Baloch replied. “Our protest will continue until the withdrawal of the petroleum levy,” JI leader further said.
It is to be mentioned here that the two sides have discussed the issue during five rounds of talks between them.
The government team in the first round visited Mansoora in Lahore to invite the JI for talks, while other four rounds of talks between the sides were held in Islamabad. The last round of negotiations took place on September 16 (Wednesday).
Jamaat Islami chief Hafiz Naeem on Tuesday said that protest sit-ins and the march would not end until withdrawal of the Petroleum Levy.
“They are offering Rs 25 billion monthly relief but avoiding to take the levy back,” talking to media Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman said.
He said that the party has finalized its preparations for the Islamabad March on September 20.
Hafiz Naeem said that the government has collected 1567 billion rupees levy on petroleum during the previous year.
