• Hafiz Naeem says sit-ins to be converted into shutter-down strike on 13th Rabiul Awwal
• Party to stage indefinite protest outside Governor House in Quetta from 29th

LAHORE / KARACHI: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Sunday warned the government that the party would expand its ongoing sit-ins into a nationwide movement, culminating in a shutter-down strike and a possible march on Islamabad if the petroleum levy was not withdrawn.

Addressing a press conference at the JI sit-in site in Lahore, Mr Rehman said the protests in the provincial capital had entered their eighth day and would continue until the government abolished the petroleum levy.

He announced that JI would establish protest camps across the country and call a nationwide shutter-down strike on 13th Rabiul Awwal, followed by a march towards Islamabad if the government failed to respond to its demands.

“The rulers are squeezing the blood out of the people through forced levies and taxes,” he said, adding that the government was protecting the privileges of the ruling elite while shifting the burden of its policies onto ordinary citizens.

Mr Rehman said public pressure had forced the government to reduce the price of diesel by Rs32 per litre. He said oil mafias had been making excessive profits by charging consumers for imported diesel at rates linked to the cost of locally produced diesel.

The JI chief also said the government and sugar mafia were manipulating the sugar market. He said 765,000 tonnes of sugar had been imported in collusion with vested interests without taxes, yet sugar prices continued to rise. He announced that JI would celebrate Eid Miladun Nabi on 12th Rabiul Awwal at the sit-in sites.

Series of sit-ins

According to a statement issued by the JI from Islamabad, the party announced a series of protest sit-ins across the federal capital as part of its nationwide protest campaign against the petroleum levy, rising fuel prices, inflation and costly agreements with independent power producers.

A protest sit-in was staged in the federal capital’s Ghori Town on Sunday. Another sit-in will be staged in Islamabad’s Karachi Company today (Monday), followed by protests in Sector G-7/3 on 25th, B-17 on 27th and the PWD neighbourhood on 28th.

The next demonstrations will be held on Aug 29, 30 and 31 in Bharakahu, Jhangi Syedan and Lehtrar Road, respectively.

‘PPP conniving with PML-N’

In Karachi, the JI’s sit-in near Governor House continued for the eighth consecutive day on Sunday, with party leaders insisting that the protest would not be called off unless the government withdrew the petroleum levy and provided relief to consumers.

Addressing the protesters, JI Karachi chief Monem Zafar Khan said the party would continue its struggle until the petroleum levy was withdrawn. He maintained that the levy had placed an additional burden on ordinary citizens already struggling with inflation and high utility bills.

He also criticised the Sindh government, accusing it of “conniving” with the PML-N-led federal government instead of protecting the interests of people.

Meanwhile, the JI Balochistan announced plans to stage an indefinite sit-in outside Governor House in Quetta starting from Aug 29.

The protest aims to challenge unfulfilled government promises, high petroleum levy, and rising lawlessness.

Speaking at a press conference at the Quetta Press Club, JI Provincial Vice President Zahid Akhtar Baloch said the sit-in would continue until the party’s demands were met.

With additional input from Bakhtawar Mian in Islamabad and Muhammad Akbar Notezai in Quetta

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2026