Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Wednesday announced a series of public gatherings across Pakistan to protest rising living costs, problems faced by farmers and delays in holding local government elections.
Addressing a press conference at the party’s Mansoorah headquarters in Lahore, Rehman said JI would organise a public gathering in Quetta on November 22, followed by a major rally at Minar-i-Pakistan in Lahore on November 29.
Similar gatherings would subsequently be held in Peshawar and Karachi, he added, although dates for those events were not announced.
The planned demonstrations mark an expansion of JI’s ongoing campaign against petroleum levies, which the party has been demanding the federal government abolish for more than two months.
Fuel prices have risen sharply amid conflicts in the Middle East since March, adding to inflationary pressures on households and businesses.
Rehman said the party had decided to broaden its campaign to address increasing prices of petroleum products and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), agricultural challenges and delays in local government elections.
The announcement comes despite six consecutive reductions in petrol and diesel prices by the government since last week, following a decline in international oil prices.
However, consumers have yet to experience corresponding relief in the prices of essential commodities, as goods transporters have not reduced their charges.
LPG prices also remain substantially above officially notified rates, partly because of disruptions to supplies from Iran.
During the press conference, Rehman criticised other political parties, claiming that none was seriously addressing the everyday problems faced by ordinary citizens.
He maintained that political movements should remain peaceful and disciplined, rejecting violence and the use of force during demonstrations.
The JI chief described the planned campaign as an organised and peaceful effort to draw attention to economic pressures and governance issues affecting the public.
The party’s upcoming gatherings are expected to focus on demands for reduced fuel-related taxation, relief from inflation, measures to address farmers’ difficulties and the timely conduct of local government elections.