Jamaat-e-Islami agrees to pause long march at PM’s request

Jamaat-e-Islami has temporarily put its “Super Long March” on hold at the request of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while the protest sit-in and camps will continue until a meeting with the prime minister, Aaj News reported on Tuesday.

Earlier, Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman had said that the party would not back down from protests and the long march over public rights and rising inflation. However, he welcomed the prime minister’s proposal to postpone the sit-in and said the proposal was being considered.

Speaking at a press conference in Multan, Hafiz Naeem said PM Shehbaz had contacted him by telephone and requested that the sit-in be postponed, which the Jamaat-e-Islami welcomed. The two leaders agreed to meet after the prime minister’s ongoing visit and to continue consultations on the matter.

Hafiz Naeem said Jamaat-e-Islami would not withdraw its demands and would seek written assurances from the government. According to him, a mere policy of delaying or evading the issue would not be accepted.

Earlier, the Prime Minister’s Office said PM Shehbaz on Tuesday spoke by telephone with JI emir and urged him to postpone the party’s planned sit-in in Islamabad.

The prime minister said the government was providing relief on petroleum products to the economically vulnerable and middle-income segments amid the prevailing difficult circumstances.

“The government will continue to ensure relief for the people to the extent possible,” he said.

Hafiz Naeem welcomed the prime minister’s proposal and said the JI was considering postponing the sit-in, according to the PM Office.

The two leaders agreed to meet after the prime minister’s return from his visit and continue consultations on the matter.

The development comes a couple of days after Karachi-to-Islamabad Super Train March led by Hafiz Naeem against petroleum levy, tax and agreements with IPPs began from Karachi Cantt Station.

Thousands of JI workers and participants of the march were present at Karachi Cantt Station on Sunday, where office-bearers of women wing saw off march participants with prayers for Islamabad.

Addressing participants of train march, Hafiz Naeem had said the government should read the writing on the wall, “this is not an issue of anyone’s ego. Government should take its credit and end extortion tax. Government has a way to give relief to people — abolish petroleum levy and reduce extra burden imposed on people.”

“Islamabad march is not for any party or any individual but is being done for people’s rights. Due to government policies people are facing worst difficulties, white-collar class is forced to live life in misery, while government is putting burden of its mismanagement and faulty policies on people. Government, on pretext of international market, is putting extra burden of petroleum products prices on people. Instead of reining in ruling elite, reducing official and elite expenditure, reducing volume and expenses of vehicles and revisiting cruel agreements of IPPs, more taxes are being imposed on people,” he had said.

He had said in IPPs, government and government representatives were present, similarly questions had been raised about presence and interests of government people in oil marketing companies, refinery, flour and sugar sectors.