PM Shehbaz, Jamaat-e-Islami Chief Hafiz Naeem Likely to Meet Over Abolition of Petroleum Levy

LAHORE:Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to meet Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman within the next two days to discuss the abolition of the petroleum levy, Jamaat-e-Islami Deputy Emir Liaquat Baloch has said.

According to NNI, Liaquat Baloch said Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Rana Sanaullah Khan had contacted him by telephone and informed him about the proposed meeting.

He said members of the government’s negotiating committee had already briefed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the discussions held between Jamaat-e-Islami and government committees in Islamabad and Lahore over the petroleum levy.

Liaquat Baloch added that Hafiz Naeem would meet the prime minister specifically to discuss the complete abolition of the levy.

He emphasised that Jamaat-e-Islami wanted the petroleum levy to be abolished entirely, maintaining that the party would continue its campaign until its demand was met.

The Jamaat-e-Islami leader also announced that the party had launched the third phase of its protest movement against the petroleum levy.

He warned that if the government failed to provide relief to the public, Jamaat-e-Islami would organise a long march towards Islamabad.

The proposed meeting is expected to focus on the party’s demand for the complete removal of the petroleum levy and the government’s response to calls for relief amid public concerns over fuel costs.