MULTAN: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said on Tuesday that the party had postponed its long march until the first week of October at the request of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while making it clear that its protest campaign would continue.
Addressing a press conference in Multan, Hafiz Naeem said the JI was raising issues concerning the basic problems faced by the public and accused the government of using petrol prices and tax collection to conceal corruption.
He said sit-ins were continuing in 42 cities and that the party had already asked the government in writing to withdraw the levy, but received a negative response.
The JI chief said several meetings had been held with the government and the party had also launched a train march from Karachi to Rohri and onward to Multan as part of its campaign over public issues.
He said the party had presented several proposals for reducing petrol prices during meetings with federal ministers, but the government had repeatedly cited its agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a reason for being unable to reduce the petroleum levy.
Hafiz Naeem said rising petroleum prices had created a difficult situation across the country, adding that the government’s relief package would benefit the government rather than address the concerns raised by the JI.
According to him, the prime minister had requested that the long march be postponed. He said the party would not withdraw from its protest movement and that sit-ins would continue.
“We will not stop,” Hafiz Naeem said, adding that the long march had been deferred until the first week of October.
He said the JI would seek written assurances from the government and would hold further talks with the prime minister after his return to the country.
Hafiz Naeem said the party’s agenda was not confrontation or disorder but relief for the people. He warned that if the government failed to provide relief, the long march would resume.
Hafiz Naeem said the JI’s caravans would remain where they were until his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. However, he made it clear that the party was not withdrawing from its protest and would continue its campaign over its demands.
He said that the party would meet and negotiate with the government but would not abandon its long march.
“We are not discontinuing our protest. The sit-ins will continue,” he said, adding that the JI would keep its camp in Multan.
Hafiz Naeem said the JI wanted to give the government an opportunity to address the public’s concerns. He added that the party would hold talks with the prime minister regarding relief for the people.
The announcement came after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif contacted Hafiz Naeem by telephone and requested him to postpone their march for a few days.
PM Shehbaz Sharif made the request during a telephone call with Hafiz Naeem after the JI’s train march reached Multan.
The prime minister also maintained that he was ready to hold meaningful talks with the JI on the petroleum levy after returning to Pakistan.
Hafiz Naeem told the prime minister that the party did not seek any law and order problem or confrontation with the government. He, however, said the JI had taken to the streets to raise public concerns and the government would have to respect its right to protest.
Hafiz Naeem said the party would consult its Shura, the party’s central decision-making council, before responding to the prime minister’s request to postpone the long march.
He said even if the march was postponed at the government’s request, the party would not give up its right to protest.
The JI’s train march against the petroleum levy rolled into Multan late Monday night, with Hafiz Naeem addressing supporters at the railway station.
The JI emir said the train had been delayed for four hours but the delay had not stopped supporters from turning out to welcome the march. “Those who conspired should see how many people came out to welcome us in Multan,” he said.
He reiterated the JI’s demand that the government withdraw what the party describes as “extortion levy” on petroleum products provide relief to the public.
“If you provide relief to the people, we have no issue of ego,” Hafiz Naeem said.
The JI emir said the party was raising the concerns of poor and middle-class people, arguing that political parties were not adequately addressing issues affecting ordinary citizens.
He cited the prices of wheat, flour and sugar as examples of the economic pressures facing consumers.
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