We Will Force Reduction in Petrol Prices, People Must Take to Streets: Hafiz Naeem

LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has said his party will launch a movement to reduce petrol prices, similar to its previous campaign over electricity tariffs, urging people to come out and demand their rights.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore alongside party leaders, Hafiz Naeem accused the government of shifting the burden of its failures onto the public. He claimed that corruption worth Rs1.1 trillion was taking place in various government sectors and said the industrial sector was being severely damaged.

He said ordinary citizens were being burdened with levies, fuel adjustments, taxes and duties, while a particular privileged class was receiving annual benefits worth $17 billion. He alleged that government beneficiaries and independent power producers (IPPs) were among those receiving such privileges.

According to Hafiz Naeem, rising petrol and diesel prices increase the cost of almost every essential commodity. He said people were already deprived of adequate healthcare and education facilities, while all provinces were demanding peace but continued to face security problems.

The JI emir said the public needed to know how much money was being spent on privileges for different groups; otherwise, he warned, the burden on ordinary citizens would continue to increase.

He claimed that Pakistanis were paying more in capacity payments for electricity than the cost of actual power generation. He also said the JI’s previous campaign had contributed to reductions in electricity bills, while load-shedding in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had again exceeded six hours in some areas.

Hafiz Naeem alleged that a petroleum levy had been imposed on the promise of improving refineries but that the promised improvements had not been delivered. He claimed that Rs1.5 trillion had been collected through the levy and said the public was ultimately bearing the burden.

He said the price of petrol should be around Rs225 per litre, arguing that higher fuel prices increase the cost of food and other necessities. He added that the price of bread should ideally be Rs10 rather than Rs20.

The JI leader also called for limits on the official facilities available to government officeholders, saying that vehicles used by generals, bureaucrats, MNAs and ministers should not exceed 1,300cc.

Referring to the reported purchase of an aircraft for Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, he questioned the need for the purchase and said such expenses ultimately placed an additional burden on the public.

Hafiz Naeem announced that the JI would hold protests outside Governor Houses and Chief Ministers’ Houses. He said the party had previously organized peaceful demonstrations at more than 500 locations and would again stage peaceful protests.

He invited people from all political parties, as well as goods transporters and young people, to join the campaign. He said the protests would begin at 3pm the following day and that no date had been set for ending the movement.

“Our demand is clear: petrol, electricity and essential commodity prices must be reduced,” he said.

Hafiz Naeem warned that if the government attempted to obstruct the protests, the movement could potentially turn into a campaign seeking the removal of the government.

He said the idea of transforming the campaign into a “government-toppling movement” was already being discussed within the party, adding that further restrictions or mistreatment could lead to such a development.