• Ahsan Iqbal says bipartisan body, including PML-N and JI members, formed to finalise relief proposals • Hafiz Naeem warns of renewed protest if levy not abolished

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Tuesday convinced the Jamaat-i-Islami to postpone its march on Islamabad, forming a bipartisan committee to expand the fuel relief scheme in response to the JI’s demands for the abolition of the petroleum levy.

The announcement came after JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the federal capital to discuss his party’s demands regarding the fuel levy.

Addressing a press conference alongside PM aide Rana Sanaullah, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said the PM and the JI leader agreed that a committee would be formed comprising three JI members and three government representatives — himself, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and the PM’s political adviser Rana Sanaullah – to give a “final shape” to fuel relief proposals.

The committee will discuss how to expand the scope of the government’s relief scheme so that a greater number of “deserving people” could benefit from it and how to formulate “concrete proposals to phase out levies for the next budget”.

Mr Iqbal claimed that approximately 12.5 million citizens across the country were currently benefiting from the scheme. While acknowledging that every political party had a right to protest, he stressed that the regional conditions warranted that everyone maintain peace and internal stability in the country.

The minister stressed that Pakistan was playing its diplomatic role in resolving the Middle East crisis, including facilitating negotiations between the US and Iran, so that reduced regional tensions could lower global oil prices and the relief could be passed on to the public.

Addressing the media alongside Mr Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah said: “The government, to whatever extent possible, is providing relief to the common man, the poor man, and is trying to advance it further.”

He appreciated the JI’s efforts and its belief that the common man should be provided relief, stressing that this relief should be taken forward “in such a manner that it is targeted, and that maximum relief be given to those people who deserve it more”.

“It is our hope, and indeed our belief, that the Jamaat-i-Islami leadership, keeping in view these delicate and sensitive matters, will certainly play their role,” he said.

‘Govt given 10 days’

The JI chief, in his press conference, said that the party had given seven to 10 days to the government to address their demands. He said they would march on Islamabad in mid-November if the government did not abolish the fuel levy by that time.

“Our sit-ins are continuing and so is our long march,” he said, adding that the party had made it clear to the government that the petroleum levy was an unjustified tax and must be abolished.

He maintained that JI would continue its preparations and would begin nationwide mobilisation for its planned march to the federal capital, while negotiations would also continue at the same time.

According to the JI leader, the negotiations had not ended without results, as both sides had agreed on the need to provide relief to the people. However, he stressed that his party wanted immediate action rather than a phased response while the government wanted more time to examine the proposals.

“The government wants to show flexibility in the levy phase-wise, but we are demanding immediate results,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2026