LAHORE:Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has said the time has come for a decisive public struggle against petroleum levy, asserting that the nationwide protest on August 7 (tomorrow) would become a historic display of people's power.
In a statement issued from Mansoorah on Wednesday, he said millions of people would stage sit-ins on key highways and block inter-district roads to compel the government to provide relief to the public.
He said preparations for the nationwide protest campaign had entered the final phase, with JI leaders and workers across the country actively mobilising the public through corner meetings, awareness campaigns and extensive outreach.
The movement, he said, was not driven by political interests but aimed at defending the rights of ordinary Pakistanis burdened by soaring inflation, unemployment and unbearable taxation.The JI chief announced that he would address a major protest rally organised by the JI Women chapter on Lahore's Wahdat Road today (Thursday) against the petroleum levy.
Appealing to the youth, he urged motorcyclists to come onto the roads on August 7 and peacefully block major highways by parking their motorcycles as part of the protest. He stressed that the demonstrations would remain peaceful and that only ambulances and emergency service vehicles would be allowed to pass. He warned the government against creating obstacles to the people's constitutional and democratic right to peaceful protest, saying any attempt to suppress the movement would be the sole responsibility of the authorities.
