PM Must Fulfil Promise or We Will Restart Long March from Multan: Hafiz Naeem

KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has warned that his party will restart its long march from Multan if Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif fails to fulfil his commitment regarding relief on petroleum products.

Addressing a press conference at Idara Noor-e-Haq in Karachi, Hafiz Naeem said the fuel relief package was not a solution, adding that the real relief would come through the abolition of the petroleum levy.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had assured the JI during a telephone conversation from the United States that he would look into the matter after returning to Pakistan. Following the assurance, the party had announced a postponement of its long march.

“The prime minister should fulfil his promise; otherwise, we will restart the long march from Multan,” Hafiz Naeem said.

He criticised the government for describing the petroleum relief package as a major relief measure, saying that even this relief was not reaching everyone and was benefiting only around 20 to 25 percent of the population.

The JI chief pointed out that Pakistan has around 25 million motorcycles and more than four million vehicles, adding that people using public transport had been provided no relief under the package.

Hafiz Naeem said the government had not been willing to provide relief until protests and sit-ins began. He also criticised opposition parties for failing to raise issues concerning public rights.

He reiterated that the abolition of the petroleum levy was the real solution and said the JI had already presented proposals explaining how the levy could be eliminated.

“We have not withdrawn from our demands even for a single day,” Hafiz Naeem said, adding that the government would have to end what he described as an unjust levy.

He said the party could restart its long march from Multan at any time and urged the prime minister to fulfil his commitment and demonstrate responsibility.

Hafiz Naeem said the JI had set October 7, 2026, as the deadline while focusing on the situation in Gaza, after which the party would announce its future course of action.

He further said long marches and protests were the right of every political party and part of the democratic process, urging the government not to prevent peaceful protests.

The JI chief said the government’s stance that it would not hold negotiations was incorrect and called for talks to resume. He also urged the opposition to demonstrate responsibility, saying women and elderly prisoners should be released and that the demand for hospital access for a party leader was legitimate.

Hafiz Naeem also said imposing governor’s rule was not a solution to the country’s political problems.