Rawalpindi, October 23,2026: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) staged protest demonstrations across northern Punjab on Friday, demanding a substantial reduction in petroleum prices and the immediate abolition of the petroleum levy.
The demonstrations, held on the call of JI chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, took place in Rawalpindi, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Talagang, Murree, Khushab, Chakwal, Jhelum, Attock, Mianwali and Sargodha.
JI Punjab Emir Dr Tariq Saleem led the protest in Gujrat, while Punjab Secretary General Iqbal Khan headed the demonstration in Attock. Other provincial and district leaders also addressed the protesters.
Speaking in Gujrat, Tariq Saleem said the third phase of JI’s nationwide protest movement against the petroleum levy had begun under the directives of Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman.
He described the relief package announced following earlier protests as insufficient, saying it had failed to provide meaningful relief to the public amid rising inflation. He termed the petroleum levy an “extortion tax” and criticised payments to independent power producers (IPPs), alleging that billions of rupees were being paid even for electricity that was not generated.
Saleem said protests and sit-ins were being held simultaneously in 150 cities across the country. He warned that the party would intensify its campaign if the government continued to delay negotiations and failed to provide substantial relief.
He reiterated that abolishing the petroleum levy was a non-negotiable demand and warned that JI would march towards Islamabad if the government did not accept its demands.
Addressing protesters in Attock, Iqbal Khan demanded the withdrawal of the Rs80-per-litre petroleum levy on petrol, the Rs5 climate support levy and other taxes.
He said the government should provide greater relief to consumers, arguing that falling international petroleum prices had not translated into adequate reductions for Pakistani motorists.
Although the government had reduced petroleum prices slightly following JI’s protests, Khan said the relief remained insufficient. He called for petrol prices to be reduced to Rs225 per litre and also demanded cuts in electricity and gas tariffs.
Khan criticised the government for citing International Monetary Fund (IMF) requirements to justify measures affecting the public, while, he alleged, failing to make comparable reductions in official expenditure and privileges enjoyed by the ruling elite.
He maintained that peaceful protest was a constitutional and democratic right and urged party workers to prepare for a planned march towards Islamabad. He also called on the government not to obstruct the party’s peaceful political campaign.
Both leaders reiterated that JI would continue its protest movement until the government addressed its demands for lower petroleum prices, abolition of the petroleum levy and relief from rising energy costs.
