ISLAMABAD: Talks between the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and the government over the petroleum levy and fuel prices ended without any agreement on Thursday, prompting the JI to announce that it would continue its protest and sit-ins against the government.
A JI delegation led by party Deputy Emir Liaquat Baloch held the second round of negotiations with the government team at Punjab House, but the two sides could not reach a decision on the party’s demands.
The JI delegation was led by Liaqat Baloch alongside Deputy Secretary Syed Firasat Shah, KP North Emir Inayatullah Khan, Lahore Emir Ziauddin Ansari, Islamabad Emir Nasrullah Randhawa, and Naveed Ali Baig. The government team comprised Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, and senior bureaucrats from the petroleum and power divisions.
The talks focused on the petroleum levy and measures to provide relief to consumers. During the first round of negotiations, the JI had presented the government with six proposals aimed at reducing petroleum product prices and easing the financial burden on the public.
However, no agreement was reached during the second round, after which the JI decided to continue its countrywide protest and sit-ins against the government over petroleum prices.
The party has been demanding relief for consumers and a reduction in the burden of the petroleum levy, which it has described as unjustified and an additional burden on the public.
However, the government requested a three-day extension and appealed for a delay in any long march announcement during the second round of negotiations with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) regarding the elimination of the petroleum levy at Punjab House on Thursday.
However, JI Vice Emir Liaqat Baloch made it clear to the ruling delegation that the final decision regarding the march rests solely with Emir Hafiz NaeemurRehman.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Liaqat Baloch stated that JI presented detailed arguments on its six key demands, reiterating that the petroleum levy must be completely abolished to provide relief to the public. He remarked that while government representatives offered vague responses and bureaucrats highlighted procedural difficulties, JI laid out six actionable areas for relief, including reducing oil refinery margins and cutting interest rates by three percent.
Baloch criticized the administration for imposing the levy to cover bad governance and inefficiency, warning that negotiations cannot continue indefinitely while sit-ins persist across the country. He asserted that if the government fails to provide tangible relief by Monday, ongoing nationwide demonstrations will march toward Islamabad, adding that the outcome of these talks will be briefed to Hafiz Naeemur Rehman for a final determination.
Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi have extended support to the JI’s campaign against the increase in the petroleum levy.
JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman held separate telephone conversations with Fazlur Rehman and Chief Minister Sohail Afridi to discuss the country’s political situation, rising inflation and public concerns over the petroleum levy.
During his conversation with Fazlur Rehman, Hafiz Naeem said imposing the additional burden of the petroleum levy on the public was “blatant injustice” and called on all opposition parties to jointly raise an effective voice for resolving inflation and other public problems.
He said the JI was fulfilling its responsibility of representing the people at the national level.
Fazlur Rehman endorsed the JI’s position and announced his full support for its campaign against the petroleum levy.
He praised the JI for taking a clear position on issues affecting ordinary citizens and described its efforts to highlight public grievances as commendable.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026