PESHAWAR: Jamaat-i-Islami Khyber Pakhtunkhwa staged protest demonstrations in different parts of the province on Friday against the continuous increase in petroleum products, electricity prices, prolonged power outages and closure of CNG stations.

The protest demonstrations were staged in the district headquarters on the call of the JI central emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman.

In Peshawar, the protest demonstration was held outside the Peshawar Press Club, which was led by provincial general secretary Sabir Hussain Awan, former minister Hafiz Hashmat Khan and city amir Hafiz Hamidullah advocate.

Addressing the gathering, the speakers said that due to the government’s poor strategy and wrong decisions, the country had been suffering from a severe energy crisis, while the public had to bear most of the brunt.

They said that closing educational institutions for three days a week in the name of the energy crisis was tantamount to playing with students’ futures, which clearly reflected government incompetence.

They demanded an immediate reduction in the prices of petroleum products, electricity and other essential items and restoration of CNG stations.

Protests and rallies were also organised in other districts of the province against the increase in petroleum prices.

KP JI’s central region emir Abdul Wasey, along with Mardan District emir Ghulam Rasool, while addressing a protest rally held at the Bank Road in Mardan said that the rulers were using global situation as a pretext to impose new taxes on the poor every week, making life unbearable for the common man.

He said the government’s economic policies have caused severe hardship for public, while inflation has made people’s lives miserable.

He further said that on one hand, the ruling class was continuously increasing its perks and privileges, salaries and protocols, while on the other hand, instead of giving relief to the poor, they are being burdened with more taxes.

In Mansehra, Jamaat-i-Islami held rallies against rising petroleum prices and imposition of levy on solar systems across parts of the Hazara division.

On the call of the party’s central emir, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, rallies were also taken out in Mansehra, Torghar, Upper Kohistan, Lower Kohistan and Kolai-Palas districts, where speakers criticised the federal government, accusing it of pushing the country into economic turmoil through what they described as anti-people policies.

Holding banners and placards inscribed with their demands, protesters marched through the streets and raised slogans in support of their cause.

Speaking on the occasion, divisional emir of JI in Hazara, Abdul Razzaq Abbasi, said the government had failed to effectively run the country. “The government has deprived people of even two-time meal and children’s education” he said.

In Chitral, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) workers held a protest rally at Ataliq Chowk, following Friday prayers, where party leadership levelled serious allegations of corruption against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) provincial government and local officials.

The gathering, addressed by JI provincial deputy ameer Maghfirat Shah, district ameer Wajeehuddin and senior leaders Shujaul Haq and Abdul Haq, marked the formal launch of the ‘End Corruption, Save Chitral’ movement.

The rally participants also raised slogans against the provincial government for its alleged patronage of the “timber mafia”. JI leaders accused PTI of facilitating the illegal cutting of 25,000 cubic feet of cedar (deodar) from the Arandu forests.

Demanding immediate accountability, JI called upon the deputy commissioner of Lower Chitral to finalise the ongoing investigation into fund embezzlement and make the report public.

In Dera Ismail Khan, a rally was organised by Jamaat-i-Islami at Topanwala Chowk on Friday to protest against rising inflation and increasing petroleum product prices. The rally was led by Jamaat-i-Islami’s district emir Manzar Masood Khattak.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2026