LAHORE: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Tuesday announced a nationwide highway blockade and sit-ins on August 7, as part of the second phase of the party’s campaign against the petroleum levy, inflation, rising electricity costs, and power outages.

Addressing a press conference at Mansoora, the JI chief said the party workers and supporters would stage sit-ins on roads linking all districts across the country. He added that only ambulances and emergency services vehicles would be allowed to pass during the protests.

He said the JI had decided to intensify its campaign after consultations and would organize 20,000 corner meetings across Pakistan before August 7 to mobilize public support.

He urged people, particularly the youth, to participate in the JI demonstrations and bring their motorcycles onto roads to strengthen the protest movement.

The JI emir demanded abolition of the petroleum levy, cancellation of costly IPP agreements, and effective steps to control inflation and end electricity loadshedding. He also called on provincial governments to reduce food prices to levels prevailing before the Iran-US conflict.

Criticising the government’s decision to allow Ogra to adjust petroleum prices on a daily basis, he termed the move misleading and questioned the authority’s role in determining fuel prices, while petroleum levy and other taxes remained in place.

He said the government was placing an excessive burden on the public through fuel taxes and added that petrol prices could fall significantly if the levy and other charges were removed.

He demanded the rulers to reduce their own privileges and unnecessary expenditures instead of further burdening the masses.

Warning the government against using force or any undemocratic measures to stop the protests, Rehman said such action could transform the anti-inflation campaign into a broader movement against the government.

The JI leader criticised the performance of provincial governments, claiming that poverty in Punjab had increased in recent years.

Rehman said the JI would continue its protest campaign until its demands are met.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2026