Government, JI Talks End Without Deal as Long March Looms

LAHORE: The fifth round of negotiations between the federal government and Jamaat-e-Islami ended without an agreement on Saturday night, leaving the party's planned long march against the petroleum levy on schedule. The meeting took place as both sides continued efforts to resolve differences over fuel taxation and the protest campaign expected to begin from Karachi on Sunday.

The government delegation included Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah and Punjab Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique. Jamaat-e-Islami was represented by Deputy Emir Liaquat Baloch, Acting Secretary General Nazir Ahmad Janjua and other party officials involved in negotiations over the levy and the planned mobilisation toward Islamabad.

During the meeting, government representatives asked the party to postpone its long march because of security concerns. The delegation argued that the prevailing security environment required additional caution around large political gatherings and sought more time for discussions rather than an immediate escalation of street protests.

Jamaat-e-Islami maintained that the march would remain necessary unless the petroleum levy was withdrawn. Baloch said the government needed to take practical action on the party's demand and indicated that protests would proceed if no substantive change was announced. The party has been campaigning against the levy and higher fuel costs through demonstrations and negotiations for several weeks.

Government representatives told the delegation that additional public relief measures would be introduced and referred to economic constraints facing the country. They also cited Pakistan's commitments and discussions with the International Monetary Fund as part of the broader fiscal environment influencing decisions on petroleum taxation. No agreement was announced on removing or reducing the levy during Saturday's meeting.

The unresolved talks come as fuel costs remain a significant economic issue for households and businesses. Higher transport expenses can feed into prices for food and other essential goods, while petroleum taxation represents an important source of government revenue. Jamaat-e-Islami argues that withdrawing the levy would provide broader relief, while the government has instead introduced targeted fuel assistance for eligible motorcycle, rickshaw and small-car users.

The planned protest is expected to begin from Karachi on September 20 under the leadership of Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman. Party officials have said the mobilisation will move toward Islamabad in stages, keeping pressure on the government while leaving open the possibility of further negotiations if authorities present a proposal addressing the petroleum levy.

Saturday's fifth round therefore ended with the central disagreement unresolved: the government wants the march delayed amid security concerns, while Jamaat-e-Islami says it will proceed unless its principal demand receives a concrete response. Further contacts between the two sides remain possible as the protest begins, with attention now turning to whether another negotiating round or a revised government proposal can alter the party's announced programme.