Shafaqna Pakistan: Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly denounced the recent surge in petroleum prices and announced the launch of a nationwide protest campaign starting today.
In a statement, Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan’s Ameer, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, described the price hike as a “petrol bomb” on the public, calling it wholly unacceptable. He highlighted that petrol reaching Rs 458, following successive increases of Rs 55 and Rs 137, amounts to extreme oppression of ordinary citizens.
Rehman said the poorest and middle-income segments of society are being crushed under mounting economic pressures. He also criticized the government for maintaining lavish lifestyles, including expensive aircraft and luxury vehicles, at the expense of the public.
According to him, the price hike directly impacts bikers, delivery workers, students, and laborers, and the burden is not limited to fuel alone.
Taxes have also been increased, while levies that should have been removed remain in place, further straining the public.
Rehman urged the government to provide relief to the people instead of yielding to IMF pressures. He highlighted that Independent Power Producers (IPPs) continue to receive billions in payments, while ordinary citizens receive no relief. He described the so-called “capacity payments” as an act of looting the public’s pockets.
The Jamaat-e-Islami chief reaffirmed that the party rejects any
increase in petroleum prices and confirmed that protest activities will begin nationwide from today.
He called on the youth to step forward, struggle to change the current situation, and compel the government to reverse its decisions.
Source: Dunya News
