Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) staged nationwide protests on Friday against inflation, higher fuel prices, the petroleum levy, and taxes, with demonstrations, sit-ins, and rallies disrupting traffic on major highways and roads in several cities.
Addressing party workers in Lahore, JI chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman announced that the party would launch what he described as “historic” sit-ins outside Governor Houses in all four provinces.
He said the government had effectively admitted the failure of the existing system. He criticised the authorities for increasing petrol prices and taxes, arguing that they had failed to pass on the benefit to the public when international oil prices fell.
Hafiz Naeem said the party had completed consultations and finalised its strategy. He claimed the government had collected Rs8 trillion through the petroleum levy and accused it of trying to conceal its incompetence and corruption.
He demanded that the petrol price be reduced to Rs225 per litre, the petroleum levy be abolished and taxes be lowered. He also called on supporters to march towards Lahore on August 9, saying the party would march to the Chief Minister’s House and stage a sit-in there.
The Jamaat-e-Islami chief further said that several party workers had been arrested and demanded their immediate release.
Sindh
In Karachi, the party’s protest led to severe traffic jams and congestion at many places. According to the traffic police spokesperson, traffic pressure was reported on both carriageways between Lasbela Chowk and Numaish Chowrangi, on roads linking Tibet Centre with Numaish Chowrangi, and on both sides of the road between Numaish and Shahrah-e-Quaideen.
The spokesperson said that traffic police personnel remained deployed to maintain the flow of vehicles.
The JI workers blocked the National Highway in Matiari in protest, disrupting traffic in both directions and causing long queues of vehicles on the Karachi-Punjab National Highway.
In Tando Allahyar, the party organised a protest rally from Ghani Khan Park to the Press Club, while in Thatta, protesters staged a sit-in at DC Chowk in Makli on JI’s appeal.
In Shikarpur, JI held a sit-in on Rustam Road, severely affecting traffic on the highways connecting Kashmore, Jacobabad and Sukkur. A separate protest against the petroleum levy and inflation was also held at Hyder Chowk in Hyderabad.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, demonstrations were organised in, while protesters in Abbottabad blocked traffic at Fawara Chowk over taxes on petroleum products.
The party also staged protests in Bajaur, disrupting traffic on the main Peshawar-Bajaur highway. In Peshawar, demonstrators protested and blocked the Peshawar Motorway toll plaza.
Balochistan
In Balochistan, the party organised protests in several areas, blocking the Peshawar-Chaman-Punjab highway at Kuchlak and the road to Jacobabad in the Dasht area of Mastung.
Separate demonstrations were also held in Nasirabad, Jaffarabad, Jhal Magsi, Sohbatpur and Kachhi against inflation. A sit-in at the main chowk in Nasirabad closed the Sindh-Balochistan National Highway to traffic.
In Bela, protesters staged a sit-in at Bela Cross on the N-25 National Highway, resulting in long queues of vehicles and inconvenience for travellers.
Islamabad
In Islamabad, JI workers began gathering near Golra Mor for a protest march. Senior party leader Liaquat Baloch also arrived to participate in the march, which proceeded from Golra Mor towards 26 Number Chungi. Baloch said the protest is being held against the increase in petroleum product prices.
Punjab
In Punjab, JI staged demonstrations in Dera Ghazi Khan against rising petroleum prices and inflation, where Sangam Chowk, linking all four provinces, was closed, causing long queues of vehicles.
A sit-in at Pul 47 in Sargodha disrupted traffic, while in Rawalpindi, a rally from Liaquat Bagh to Committee Chowk drew a large number of party workers. Protesters said the government had completely failed to control inflation.
After registering their protest, the JI supporters dispersed peacefully, with traffic returning to normal in affected areas. –Agencies
