Islamabad, October 5, 2026: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Punjab Emir Dr. Tariq Saleem has demanded the immediate abolition of the petroleum levy, saying additional taxes and levies on petroleum products were placing a growing financial burden on the public.
Addressing an Ijtema-e-Arkan of Jhelum district, Dr. Tariq Saleem termed the government’s fuel relief package inadequate and called for the withdrawal of additional taxes and levies to provide meaningful relief to ordinary citizens.
The government recently launched a targeted fuel relief scheme for motorcycles, rickshaws and vehicles with engines up to 800cc following an increase in petroleum prices.
The JI leader said thousands of people had endorsed his party’s position by signing its campaign against petroleum levies. He said the party would continue its protests, rallies and marches until, in its view, effective relief was provided to economically vulnerable segments of society.
He said JI was struggling for the rights of the general public rather than the interests of any individual or political family, and urged the rulers to reduce what he described as extravagant lifestyles, privileges and unnecessary expenditures instead of transferring the burden of inflation to the people.
Dr. Tariq Saleem said abolishing additional taxes and levies on petroleum products was essential to reduce pressure on household budgets.
He said JI believed in peaceful political struggle and dialogue, but warned that the scope of its protests would be expanded if there was no meaningful progress on public demands.
The JI Punjab emir also criticised what he described as widespread corruption and misuse of public resources, saying parliamentary democracy had suffered because political parties were dominated by particular individuals and families.
Referring to the 18th Constitutional Amendment, he said that although powers had been devolved from the federation to the provinces, the provinces had not taken sufficient steps to transfer political, administrative and financial authority to the grassroots through effective local government institutions.
He also referred to Article 140A of the Constitution, which provides for provincial legislation establishing local government systems and devolving political, administrative and financial responsibility and authority to elected local representatives.
JI Pakistan Naib Ameer Dr. Osama Razi, Deputy Secretary General Azhar Iqbal Hassan and JI Jhelum District Emir Dr. Qasim Mehmood Chaudhry also addressed the gathering.
Dr. Tariq Saleem reiterated that JI would continue its peaceful political campaign and public mobilisation on issues including inflation, petroleum levies and economic relief.
