PESHAWAR: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Wednesday announced that if the federal government refused to stop collecting levy on petroleum products, a shutter-down and wheel-jam strike would be held after 12th of Rabiul Awwal.

“We will shake the current system. We will go for a complete shutter-down and wheel-jam strike a week after 12th of Rabiul Awwal,” the JI chief told party workers during a protest sit-in here.

He said some people falsely claimed that the JI protests against petroleum levy and power agreements and for reduction in prices of essential commodities weren’t attracting crowds.

“Look at this large crowd of people. It is just the beginning. The movement will go on,” he said, adding that the government had realised the movement’s effectiveness to some extent and ensured a reduction in diesel price.

Demands end to daily ‘increase’ in oil prices

Mr Rehman said the daily increase in oil prices should stop at once.

He said the issue would be resolved only when the government stopped collecting petroleum levy.

The JI leader said the people couldn’t afford the petroleum levy, so the government had to do away with the “extortion”.

“We held sit-ins at 510 points across the country as the government is increasing petroleum and electricity prices at the IMF’s diktats,” he said, complaining that people are asked to pay taxes.

Mr Rehman said that Rs100 billion more tax than the target had been collected but the government continued to burden people instead of reducing its own expenses.

He asked the prime minister to resolve the issue, saying the levy can’t be collected on petroleum products anymore.

“We raised our voice against expensive IPP agreements and told everyone that the Zardaris and Sharifs were behind them,” he said.

The JI leader complained that the people were charged for the electricity, which was never generated.

He insisted that IPPs were exempted from taxes, while people were being “looted”.

Mr Rehman said that the entire nation would be approached for taking to the streets on the petroleum levy and IPPs issues, so the rulers should take corrective measures without delay.

He said that the Federal Bureau of Revenue, which had 25,000 employees, had failed to do the job of collecting taxes, so the government was meeting its revenue targets by imposing more and more taxes on poor people.

The JI leader said that leaders of major political parties had never understood the poor socio-economic situation of the people as they never came across such problems in their lives.

“I urge workers of all political parties to support our movement against petroleum levy and IPP agreements,” he said, claiming that the common man is already part of the struggle.

Mr Rehman said that talks won’t be held with authorities for their “face-saving”, so they should meet the party’s demands without delay.

He complained about the “outsourcing of government schools and basic health units in Punjab to private organisations” and said that the agricultural growth in the province had declined, increasing poverty levels.

The JI chief held the Pakistan Democratic Movement, a major political coalition formed in September 2020, responsible for the current economic crisis in the country and said the system had collapsed, so it needed overhaul.

He said that the use of force was no solution to the problems facing the people.

“Law and order should be maintained in consultation with all stakeholders,” he said, calling for serious efforts to address issues.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2026