On the appeal of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, Jamaat-e-Islami Sindh will hold protest demonstrations on Friday, July 10, at all district headquarters across Sindh, from Karachi to Kashmore, against what it described as the “oppressive” petroleum levy tax.
Senior leaders of the party at the central, provincial, district and local levels will address the gatherings and register their protest against the government’s economic policies, inflation and what they termed anti-people measures.
In a statement, Jamaat-e-Islami Sindh General Secretary Muhammad Yousuf said the government’s claims of controlling inflation, eliminating terrorism and reviving the economy had proved to be hollow. He said those in power who once claimed they would sell their own clothes to make flour affordable had instead presided over a period in which flour had become so expensive that even securing two daily meals had become increasingly difficult for poor families.
He said that while people were already facing insecurity due to terrorism, lawlessness and the activities of dacoits, the government had imposed an additional financial burden by enforcing a petroleum levy instead of reducing fuel prices. He added that rising inflation, unemployment and increased taxation had made life unbearable for ordinary citizens, while the government had completely failed to provide meaningful relief.
Yousuf said Jamaat-e-Islami would not remain silent in the face of what it described as economic injustice against the people. Responding to the call of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, the party would stage province-wide protests across Sindh on Friday, July 10, against the petroleum levy tax.
He urged the government to end what he described as extravagance, unnecessary expenditures and misuse of public resources. Rather than imposing additional taxes on the public, he called on the government to fix the price of petrol at Rs225 per litre to provide genuine relief. He also appealed to the public to participate actively in the demonstrations and demonstrate their awareness, saying that peaceful and democratic struggle was essential for resolving public issues.