From Dawn · News Desk · · 1m 40s
JI Announces Third Wave of Anti-Levy Protests
JI plans nationwide sit-ins against petroleum levy on Friday after failed talks with government.
In brief
JI plans nationwide sit-ins against petroleum levy on Friday after failed talks with government. JI will launch third wave of protests against petroleum levy on Friday, demanding complete abolition after government delays. Originally reported by Dawn.
JI announces third wave of protests
JI announced Wednesday it will launch third phase of nationwide protest movement against petroleum levy on Friday.
“JI announced on wednesday that it will launch the third phase of its nationwide protest movement against the petroleum levy on friday”
Petroleum levy tax rates
Government currently levies rs114 per litre on petrol and rs100 per litre on diesel.
“The government currently levies rs114 per litre in taxes and duties on petrol and rs100 per litre on diesel”
Committees agreed to meet
Centre and JI agreed in early september to form committees to recommend measures to reduce levy.
“The centre and ji had agreed to form committees in early september, when the latter had planned a nationwide strike, to recommend measures to reduce the levy”
JI chief orders new protests
JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman instructed new phase of demonstrations to begin on friday.
“Wednesday’s press release by ji said the new phase of demonstrations would begin on the instructions of party chief hafiz naeemur rehman”
Demand for complete abolition
JI insists on complete abolition of petroleum levy as its clear and firm demand.
“The party’s clear and firm demand remained the complete abolition of the petroleum levy”
No further contact from government
Government made no further contact after agreed meeting with ji vice emir.
“JI claimed that the government had made no further contact regarding a planned meeting between rehman and prime minister shehbaz sharif”
Planned meeting with PM
Planning minister and pm’s adviser contacted ji vice emir to arrange meeting with prime minister.
“The press release recalled that planning minister ahsan iqbal and the pm’s adviser on political affairs, rana sanaullah, had contacted ji vice emir liaqat baloch to convey the premier’s message seeking a meeting”
Agreed agenda for meeting
Rehman clarified meeting agenda would focus on petroleum levy abolition.
“Both sides had agreed that their respective committees would meet to work out a schedule for the proposed meeting”
Warning of street protests
JI warned government that delays would lead to street protests.
“The ji emir has warned that if the government continues to delay action and refuses to provide relief to the public, the matter will be decided through street protests”
Campaign continues nationwide
JI campaign against petroleum levy will continue nationwide until demand met.
“It added that the ji’s campaign against the petroleum levy would continue nationwide until its demand was met”
Previous protest actions
JI held sit-ins in provincial capitals on aug 16 and called nationwide strike on sept 3.
“On aug 16, the ji announced sit-ins in all the provincial capitals of pakistan against the petroleum levy and had called for a nationwide strike on sept 3”
Protest march towards islamabad
JI launched protest march towards islamabad on sept 20 warning of government ousting.
“On sept 20, the party launched a protest march towards islamabad, warning that if the government failed to abolish the petroleum levy, the protest could turn into one to oust the government”
Long march postponed
JI postponed long march at pm’s request on sept 22.
“However, on sept 22, the ji emir said his party, whose convoy had reached multan, was postponing its long march at the request of pm shehbaz, pending a meeting with him”
The essence
JI will launch third wave of protests against petroleum levy on Friday, demanding complete abolition after government delays.
