Lahore, August 16, 2026: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Sunday launched a fresh round of protests and sit-ins in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta against the petroleum levy, rising fuel prices, higher taxes and inflation, intensifying its nationwide campaign for economic relief.
The protests marked the latest phase of the party’s campaign, which began earlier this month with demonstrations, rallies and sit-ins at hundreds of locations across the country.
In Lahore, JI workers continued their sit-in at Faisal Chowk on Mall Road after marching towards the area near the Chief Minister’s House. Punjab JI chief Javed Qasuri and other party leaders participated in the demonstration, while JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman also joined the protesters.
Addressing the participants, Hafiz Naeem said a similar sit-in was continuing outside the Governor House in Karachi. He criticised the government over rising petroleum prices and taxes, accusing the rulers of increasing the financial burden on ordinary citizens.
He particularly criticised the petroleum levy, describing it as a “forced extortion tax” and “jaga tax”, and questioned whether landlords associated with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) were paying taxes on their agricultural income.
The JI chief also criticised the country’s feudal system, saying poor farmers were being exploited and that the existing system could not continue. He further claimed that the salaried class had paid around Rs700 billion in taxes and questioned whether the overall tax burden was being distributed fairly among different sections of society.
In Karachi, JI workers marched from various parts of the city towards the Governor House. Led by JI Karachi chief Munim Zafar, the protesters gathered outside the Governor House and staged a sit-in against the petroleum levy and rising fuel prices.
Police were deployed around the Governor House as the demonstration continued. Authorities said the road from Fawara Chowk towards the Press Club and Arts Council remained open to traffic.
In Peshawar, JI workers staged a sit-in outside the Governor House, resulting in the closure of the road between Saddar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Chowk. JI Deputy Emir Liaquat Baloch was scheduled to address the protesters.
A simultaneous sit-in was also organised in Quetta as the party expanded its protests across all four provinces. The JI leadership had earlier announced demonstrations outside the Punjab Chief Minister’s House and the governor houses in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Speaking at a press conference in Peshawar on August 8, Hafiz Naeem had accused the government of relying heavily on the petroleum levy to generate revenue while transferring the burden to ordinary citizens.
The party has demanded a reduction in fuel prices, relief from inflation and lower taxes, while also criticising what it describes as excessive privileges and expenditures enjoyed by the ruling elite.
The latest demonstrations follow JI’s nationwide protests last week, when the party organised rallies, sit-ins and road blockades at hundreds of locations against inflation, rising fuel prices, the petroleum development levy and increased taxation.
JI says its campaign is aimed at mounting pressure on the federal government to provide immediate economic relief to citizens facing a growing cost-of-living crisis.
