Metro53 - LAHORE: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has warned that his party will be forced to march on Islamabad if the government fails to accept its demands and withdraw the petroleum levy.
Addressing the media, the JI chief criticized the government for exacerbating public hardship by carrying out unannounced load-shedding during peak summer. He urged citizens to step out of their comfort zones, take a stand, and raise their voices for their fundamental rights.
Key Highlights of Hafiz Naeem's Statement
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Novel Modes of Protest: Reiterating the party's unconventional approach, Rehman noted that JI’s protest campaign features public engagement initiatives such as street theatre, karate demonstrations, and cricket matches alongside regular sit-ins. He clarified that the campaign is aimed at fighting for ordinary citizens rather than promoting any political leader.
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Critique of "FOMO" and Political Alignment: The JI chief commented that certain political and social circles are suffering from a "fear of missing out" (FOMO), leading them to echo the government's stance instead of backing JI’s public-centric demands.
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Petroleum Levy Misuse: Rehman sharply criticized the imposition of the petroleum levy, arguing that funds collected through it were originally meant for establishing and modernizing local oil refineries rather than serving as a tool for state revenue generation. He alleged that locally extracted crude oil was sold at imported fuel rates even during crises, adding that the government ought to have reduced taxes rather than hiking them.
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Precedent of Austerity Measures: Referencing former Prime Minister Mohammad Khan Junejo's administration—which had restricted government officials to 1,000cc vehicles—he asserted that if such austerity measures could be executed in the past, similar steps can be taken today. He further accused the rulers of underestimating JI’s protests initially.
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On Coalition and Opposition: Drawing no distinction between the ruling coalition partners, Rehman stated that the PML-N, PPP, and MQM-P form part of the same political apparatus, while accusing key segments of the opposition of being "compromised."
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Questions for the Combined Opposition: Addressing opposition parties aligned with the PTI, the JI leader asked how they planned to justify their stance to the public regarding reserved seats. He also questioned whether the combined opposition would apologize to the nation for its past decision to dismantle the PTI government.
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"Form-47" Administration: Explaining why JI engaged in talks with the current ruling setup—which he referred to as a "Form-47 government"—he remarked: "When an aircraft gets hijacked, you are forced to negotiate with the hijackers."
Rehman reaffirmed that if the administration fails to provide relief to the public, Jamaat-i-Islami will expand the scope of its agitation nationwide and move its sit-in directly to the capital.
