Jamaat-e-Islami Demands Immediate Relief from Petroleum Levy, Calls It a Burden on Poor

Hafiz Naeem Warns of Protest if Government Fails to Abolish Petroleum Levy

KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has reiterated his demand for the immediate abolition of the petroleum levy, warning that his party will launch a strong public protest if the government fails to withdraw the tax.

Addressing a press conference at Idara Noor-e-Haq, he said the government was collecting around Rs150 billion every month through the petroleum levy, placing an additional financial burden on low- and middle-income households.

He said he had discussed the issue with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and urged him to eliminate the levy to provide relief to the public.

Jamaat-e-Islami Proposes Higher Levy on Luxury Vehicles

Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said Ishaq Dar had argued that completely removing the petroleum levy would also benefit wealthy individuals who own large and expensive vehicles.

In response, the JI chief proposed that the government could impose a higher levy on owners of luxury vehicles, suggesting Rs200 instead of Rs100, while ensuring relief for poor and middle-income consumers.

He added that he had also met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who requested some time to consider additional relief for the public. However, Hafiz Naeem maintained that Jamaat-e-Islami’s clear demand was the abolition of the petroleum levy.

Hafiz Naeem Criticises Federal and Sindh Governments

Commenting on the country’s political situation, the JI emir alleged that the federal and provincial governments were not based on the genuine votes of the people but were products of Form 47.

He strongly criticised the governance situation in Sindh, claiming that corruption had paralysed the provincial system and that Karachi, once known as the City of Lights, had been severely damaged by poor governance.

JI Chief Comments on Gaza and Palestine Resistance

Hafiz Naeem also spoke about international political developments and the situation in Palestine. Referring to recent election results in the United States, he claimed that Donald Trump and his allied pro-Israel groups had suffered a setback.

He condemned Israel’s military actions in Gaza, saying the Palestinian people had faced immense suffering and that large parts of the territory had been destroyed.

He praised Palestinian resilience, saying their resistance had demonstrated to the world what genuine resistance means.

Hafiz Naeem Calls for Unity Among Muslim Countries

Concluding the press conference, the Jamaat-e-Islami chief stressed the need for a new global order and greater unity among Muslims and resistance movements.

Sharing details of his recent visit to Türkiye, he said discussions there focused on Islam rather than sectarian divisions or differences of religious schools of thought.

He said the experience highlighted that Islam was not limited to a set of religious rituals but represented a comprehensive system of life.