Jamaat-e-Islami launches nationwide protests in Pakistan

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has launched nationwide sit-ins to protest rising petroleum product prices and the petroleum levy. Led by Emir Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, the demonstrations are taking place in major cities, including Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Quetta, with protesters gathering outside the Chief Minister’s House in Lahore and various Governor Houses in Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The party is demanding the abolition of the petroleum levy and a reduction in fuel prices to 225 rupees per litre. JI is also calling for lower costs for flour, electricity, and gas, alongside an end to the extravagant privileges held by government officials and the elite. Specific demands include setting the price of roti at 10 rupees and placing limits on vehicle engine capacities for bureaucrats.

These protests follow reports from the Ministry of Finance indicating that Pakistan collected 1.567 trillion rupees in petroleum levies during the 2025-26 fiscal year, exceeding the budgeted target. Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman has warned that if the government attempts to obstruct these peaceful protests, the campaign could evolve into a movement to topple the current administration.