Hafiz Naeem Warns Of Nationwide Protest Over Petroleum Levy

Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has warned that his party could launch nationwide protests if Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif does not fulfil a promise to abolish the petroleum levy. He made the remarks while speaking to the media in Buner, where he criticised the levy as an unjust burden on citizens already facing high fuel and living costs.

Hafiz Naeem said the prime minister should honour his commitment and formally announce the abolition of the levy. He described the tax as unfair and argued that people were being forced to pay heavily whenever they purchased petrol.

The party chief warned that if the promise was not implemented, Jamaat-e-Islami would begin strong protests across the country. His statement signals that the petroleum levy could become another flashpoint in national politics as opposition parties continue to criticise the government’s economic decisions.

During his remarks, Hafiz Naeem claimed that people were paying what he called a 35 percent burden when buying petrol. He said citizens had now understood what was being charged in the name of the levy, presenting the issue as part of broader public frustration over fuel prices and taxation.

He also criticised agreements linked to independent power producers, saying unjust arrangements had been made in their name. The comment connected the fuel levy issue with wider concerns over energy-sector costs, electricity payments and the pressure those costs place on households and businesses.

The remarks came as Senate Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas also spoke after meeting Hafiz Naeemur Rehman. Raja Nasir Abbas said Jamaat-e-Islami had accepted an invitation to attend an All Parties Conference and stressed that political parties had a responsibility to sit together and consult on national issues.

Raja Nasir Abbas said Pakistan’s problems should be discussed collectively by political parties. He also thanked Hafiz Naeem for opposing the imposition of emergency or governor’s rule, saying such steps would not help the country move forward and could instead deepen the crisis.

Hafiz Naeem confirmed that Jamaat-e-Islami would attend the All Parties Conference. He said the national agenda should focus on improving Pakistan’s law and order situation and addressing the economic challenges facing the public. He also reiterated his party’s opposition to governor’s rule or emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.