Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has announced that the party will continue its ongoing sit-ins while holding negotiations with the government and has formed a technical committee for the talks.
Speaking at a joint press conference with a government delegation in Lahore, Hafiz Naeem said the government had asked the JI to postpone its sit-ins. However, he said the party had made it clear that the sit-ins would continue alongside the dialogue.
Hafiz Naeem said the JI would present proposals based on economic data to identify ways to provide relief to the public. He reiterated that the party's main demand is the abolition of the petroleum levy and a reduction in petroleum prices, while also calling for cheaper bread.
According to Hafiz Naeem, the protest movement that began in one city has now expanded to around 15 to 20 cities. He said the sit-ins were not being held for a personal or political agenda but to highlight everyday issues faced by the public, particularly inflation.
He also claimed that Rs8 trillion had been collected through the petroleum levy and questioned why the levy had been increased despite the difficult economic circumstances.
