JI to block highways nationwide on Aug 7 over inflation, rising fuel prices | The Express Tribune

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Tuesday announced a nationwide blockade of major highways on August 7 as part of the party’s campaign against inflation, petroleum levy and rising fuel prices, warning that any attempt by the government to stop the peaceful protest could push the movement towards an anti-government campaign.

Amid volatility in global oil rates on the back of renewed hostilities in the Middle East, the government decided to switch to a daily fuel price review mechanism on Friday. The daily pricing is based on a seven-day weekly average of international market prices to align with international standards. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) will update petroleum product prices daily on its website to ensure transparency and allow the immediate impact of international price fluctuations to be passed on to consumers.

Addressing a press conference at JI headquarters in Lahore’s Mansoorah, Rehman said the party would organise corner meetings, sit-ins and a countrywide mobilisation campaign before August 7. He said people from all walks of life, including traders, industrialists, lawyers, students, religious scholars and youth, would participate in the protest.

He said major roads in all four provinces and district headquarters would be blocked on August 7, adding that the protest would remain peaceful and ambulances would be allowed to pass.

Criticising the increase in petroleum prices, the JI chief said the government was using the war as a pretext to raise fuel prices, even though the petroleum levy and other taxes were unrelated to the conflict. He claimed that if the petroleum levy and other taxes were abolished, the price of petrol should not exceed Rs250 per litre.

He alleged that the government had empowered the OGRA to determine petroleum prices on a daily basis, despite the fact that the petroleum levy had no legal linkage with the regulator. According to him, the government was collecting around Rs1.8 trillion annually through petroleum levy, placing the burden on motorcyclists, labourers and the middle class.

Read: Govt increases high-speed diesel price by Rs 5.71, petrol drops 35 paisas per litre for July 21

Describing the levy as “economic terrorism”, Rehman said the government was collecting taxes even from people outside the formal tax net through indirect taxation.

He said JI was not opposed to the defence budget but objected to the privileges enjoyed by judges, senior military officers, bureaucrats, lawmakers and other senior public officials. He alleged that while ordinary citizens were struggling with inflation, the ruling elite continued to benefit from state-funded perks.

The JI chief also criticised the Punjab government’s health and education policies, alleging that basic health units and public schools were being sold and renamed to mislead the public. He further claimed that poverty had increased in Punjab under the current administration.

Calling for transparency over agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs), Rehman questioned why electricity load-shedding continued despite the country’s installed power generation capacity. He alleged that consumers were paying for electricity that was not being produced.

Expressing concern over the security situation in Balochistan, he said the government could not evade responsibility by simply blaming foreign elements. If external actors were involved, he added, it was the state’s responsibility to stop them. He said the Balochistan issue required dialogue and consultations with all stakeholders, announcing that JI would convene a grand national conference to discuss a long-term solution.

He also called for resolving political issues in Azad Jammu and Kashmir through dialogue and constitutional means.

Responding to questions, Rehman said JI would continue its campaign for public rights despite criticism. He warned that if the government attempted to suppress the peaceful protest, the movement could evolve into a campaign against the government.

Read More: Daily oil revisions to hurt industry

He also commented on various political developments, saying the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) should take action over Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s recent statement, while also expressing his views on former political alliances, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Maulana Fazlur Rehman and PTI founder Imran Khan.