JI threatens long march to Islamabad in mid-November over petroleum levy as govt seeks 7–10 more days for talks

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman says the party could lead a march to Islamabad in mid-November if the government does not scrap the petroleum levy. Profit by Pakistan Today reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif requested another seven to 10 days for negotiations, which JI has agreed to extend.

Rehman said the government preferred reducing the levy in stages, but JI rejected cuts of Rs20, Rs25 or Rs30 per litre and insists on full abolition. He also said the government agreed to broaden its relief package, while claiming monthly levy collections are about Rs150 billion against planned relief of Rs26 billion, potentially rising to Rs32 billion. JI says protests will intensify and the march will go ahead if talks fail.