LAHORE: The Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan and the Markazi Muslim League staged separate demonstrations in the provincial metropolis on Friday to protest against the recent increase in petrol product prices, warning of a wider protest movement if the decision is not withdrawn.
The JI held a protest outside its headquarters at Mansoora where party workers carried placards and raised slogans against rising fuel costs.
Addressing the demonstrators, party chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman rejected the increase in petroleum prices, terming it “unjust and unacceptable.”
He warned that if the decision is not immediately reversed, the party would launch a nationwide wheel-jam strike and march towards key government centres, including the Governor’s House, Chief Minister House and Islamabad.
Punjab Central Ameer of the party, Javed Mehmood Kasuri, also criticised the hike, stating that the public is not willing to tolerate what he described as a “petrol bomb” imposed by the government.
A protest organised by the Markazi Muslim League was held at Chuburji Chowk where a large number of citizens, workers, youth and representatives of different walks of life participated. Protesters chanted slogans against the government and condemned the sharp rise in fuel prices.
Addressing the gathering, the party leaders including its central leader Hafiz Abdur Rauf, General Secretary Lahore Hameed-ul-Hassan Gujjar and others criticised the government for pushing petrol prices to unprecedented levels, alleging that successive increases have made life extremely difficult for the common man. They argued that the hike has disproportionately impacted bikers, labourers, students and delivery workers, exacerbating inflationary pressures.
Speakers also criticised the government’s economic policies, stating that instead of reducing levies and taxes, additional burden is being placed on the public. They alleged that external pressures, including those linked to the International Monetary Fund, are being prioritised over public welfare, while capacity payments to independent power producers continue.
Both the parties demanded an immediate rollback in petroleum prices and urged the government to provide relief to the masses, warning that protests could intensify in the coming days.
Meanwhile, separately addressing a public committee convention at Mansoora in Lahore, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman sharply criticised the government over the recent surge in petroleum prices, alleging that instead of curbing its own expenditures amid worsening regional conditions, the rulers had opted to pass on the burden to the public through what he termed a “petrol bomb.”
He maintained that the increase was not limited to fuel prices alone, but was accompanied by higher taxation, further squeezing household budgets. Highlighting the scale of the impact, he noted that millions of motorcycle users, estimated at around 25 million, were among the worst affected, while daily wage earners and students were effectively paying an additional monthly tax burden of around Rs6,000 due to rising costs.
The Jamaat-e-Islami chief claimed that the government was collecting approximately Rs 700 billion in taxes from the poorer segments of society, while failing to generate even Rs10 billion from the affluent classes. He also criticised the existing power sector structure, alleging that independent power producers were extracting excessive payments, with around Rs2 trillion being paid out, placing further strain on the economy.
He announced that the party would now expand its movement to include action against bureaucratic inefficiencies, asserting that Jamaat-e-Islami represents a system rooted in public welfare. He argued that the ruling elite remains disconnected from the hardships faced by ordinary citizens and reiterated that his party stands for what he described as “genuine democratic representation” of the people.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026