LAHORE: The Jamaat-i-Islami on Saturday invited political and opposition parties to join its sit-ins and rallies against the petroleum levy while announcing a nationwide signature campaign and warning of resumption of its long march if the government failed to provide relief.

Addressing a press conference at Mansoora, JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said the party workers remained mobilised and would continue their campaign until the petroleum levy was abolished. He also announced rallies across the country while warning the government of renewed street protests if it failed to provide relief.

He said the party would hold rallies in Charsadda, Swabi, Karak, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Larkana, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Karachi and other cities. A detailed schedule would be announced later. He also announced a nationwide signature campaign against the levy, saying JI would collect signatures from the public as part of its campaign.

Mr Naeem said the government had used traditional tactics to prevent the JI from holding its Lahore rally a day earlier but party workers managed to reach the venue despite the restrictions. He said the rally demonstrated that the party workers were active and would continue their struggle on public issues. He invited political and opposition parties to join JI’s sit-ins and rallies to raise issues affecting the public.

On the petroleum levy, the JI leader said the agreement with the IMF did not require the government to impose the levy. He said he expected the prime minister to hold talks with his party after returning to the country and abolish the levy. He said the party had postponed its protest for a few days at the PM’s request.

“Jamaat-i-Islami cannot throw its workers and the people into the fire,” he said, adding that the party was pursuing the issue while seeking to avoid casualties and losses. He called for a reduction in government expenditure.

He also demanded an end to interest-based financing at the federal level and said that there was no justification for allocating federal funds to provincial departments after the 18th Amendment.

Reacting to calls for governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mr Naeem said the JI would strongly oppose any such move.

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2026