LAHORE: Rejecting the prime minister’s recent petroleum relief package as insufficient, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Monday demanded the complete abolition of the petroleum levy.

Addressing a press conference on the 30th day of the sit-in in Lahore, he hoped that the government would not create obstacles to the party’s upcoming march on Islamabad, warning the authorities that they would be held fully responsible for the consequences if undemocratic tactics were used to block the movement.

The JI chief said sit-ins were currently underway at 40 locations across the country and announced that caravans from across the country would reach Islamabad on Sept 20 as part of the expanding protest movement.

Mr Rehman said a three-percentage-point reduction in the interest rate could save the national treasury around Rs1.7 trillion, an amount he argued was enough to completely eliminate the petroleum levy, which currently collects over Rs1.56tr annually from the public.

Seeks abolition of petroleum levy; talks to resume today

He accused the government of protecting the profits of the banking sector under the guise of controlling inflation, arguing that lowering interest rates would not lead to higher prices. He added that the federal government could save hundreds of billions of rupees by implementing proposals submitted by the JI’s committee.

Rejecting the government’s argument regarding the autonomy of the State Bank of Pakistan, Mr Rehman said his party had consistently opposed central bank autonomy. However, he pointed out that the government still had the power to make appointments and urged it to direct the central bank to lower interest rates. He also reiterated JI’s demand for the complete elimination of usury.

‘Unlawful profits’

The JI chief also accused certain oil refineries of exploiting pricing differences by combining imported and locally refined oil prices, resulting in what he described as unlawful profits at the public’s expense. He called for an immediate halt to the practice, along with upgrades to refinery capacities, cuts in official privileges and the termination of unfair contracts with independent power producers.

Mr Rehman confirmed that government-JI talks would resume on Tuesday (today) after the administration requested more time. He said the ongoing sit-ins in Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi had completed 30 days and continued to receive strong support from opposition parties and the general public.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2026