At the request of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Jamaat-e-Islami has postponed the ongoing long march towards Islamabad for a few days; however, the party has made it clear that the protest activities will not be stopped.
Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman told a press conference in Multan that after a telephone conversation with the Prime Minister, the party leadership was consulted. After this, it has been decided to stop the march for the time being. According to Jamaat-e-Islami, this decision has been taken to give the government an opportunity to make progress on public demands.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif had contacted Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman from New York and requested to postpone the march for a few days. The Prime Minister said that the government is ready to hold talks with Jamaat-e-Islami on the issue of petroleum levy and will also meet the party’s leadership after returning home.
Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman said that Jamaat-e-Islami does not want a clash with the government. According to him, the aim of the protest is to highlight public demands. He clarified that a break in the march will not be tantamount to an end to the protest movement.
Jamaat-e-Islami is demanding a reduction or abolition of petroleum levy and more relief for the people. The party says that the relief announced by the government is not in line with its demands.
Jamaat-e-Islami’s protest march started from Karachi and was attended by workers and supporters at various places until it reached Multan. The next leg of the march was planned to go towards Islamabad via central Punjab, including Lahore.
Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman also said that if the government does not make the desired progress on public demands, Jamaat-e-Islami may decide to resume its protest activities. Thus, the current hiatus is being seen as an opportunity for talks, not as a withdrawal from the protest demands.
Future contacts between the government and the Jamaat-e-Islami will be crucial in determining the direction of the issue. The proposed meeting after the Prime Minister’s return is expected to discuss petroleum levy and other demands, including more relief for the people.
