DAUDKHEL (Zia Niazi): On the call of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, Jamaat-e-Islami Mianwali organized a protest sit-in at Jahaz Chowk against inflation, the petroleum levy, and other allegedly unjust taxes.

The speakers demanded that the government withdraw the additional taxes, arguing that international petrol prices have returned to pre-war levels, while several taxes, including the petroleum levy and climate levy, have been imposed without justification and should be abolished.

President of Jamaat-e-Islami Youth Wing North Punjab Yasir Ali Gujjar also attended the sit-in and addressed the participants. He said that protests were being held across Pakistan on the call of Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, with Jamaat-e-Islami workers staging sit-ins at Shahrah-e-Faisal, GT Road, Swat Motorway, Islamabad, Srinagar Road and several other major highways.

He said that the party had already given a response to Rana Sanaullah. Referring to the government’s position on Independent Power Producers (IPPs), he said that the rulers had previously claimed that they would not negotiate with the IPPs but eventually had to engage with them. Similarly, he said, the government would have to reconsider its position on the petroleum levy.

Addressing the gathering, Jamaat-e-Islami Mianwali District Emir Hafiz Javed Iqbal Sajid said that the party was sitting at Jahaz Chowk to fight for the rights of the people. He said that the protesters could have blocked all roads at Jahaz Chowk, but their objective was to stage a peaceful protest and convey their concerns to the rulers.

He alleged that an environment had been created across the country, particularly in Mianwali district, where anyone raising their voice for their rights was labelled a terrorist. He questioned who had taught the decision-makers such a definition of terrorism and said that the time was not far when those decision-makers and people who considered themselves all-knowing would have nowhere to hide in the country.

Hafiz Javed Iqbal Sajid said that the people of Mianwali were courageous and dignified. He emphasized that Jamaat-e-Islami was a peaceful political and religious organization and did not believe in confrontation or the politics of corpses.

The sit-in continued until 9:00 p.m. and was peacefully concluded at the scheduled time.

Other speakers at the protest included Jamaat-e-Islami District Vice Emir Abdul Jabbar Khan, prominent trader leader Haji Falak Sher Awami, former JUP candidate for the Provincial Assembly Haji Khalid Masood Khan, farmer leader Hafiz Habibullah Khan Bahi, Mianwali District Kisan Board President Mushtaq Ahmed Qureshi, Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba Mianwali District Nazim Abdul Haseeb Khan, District Vice Emir Muhammad Aslam Khan, Jamaat-e-Islami Youth Wing President Mureed Abbas Khan, and others.