Karachi Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Monem Zafar Khan has said the government collected Rs3,137 billion in petroleum levy over the last two-and-a-half years, but collected only Rs10 billion from landlords.
Speaking at a press conference at the JI’s sit-in outside the Governor House against the petroleum levy and what the party terms anti-people agreements with independent power producers (IPPs), he said the public were demanding their rights, not charity.
The sit-in entered the 29th day on Sunday. Khan said the JI’s struggle had turned the petroleum levy into a major public issue. “The people are not asking for alms from the rulers, they are asking for their right. The government has placed a heavy burden on the people in the name of petroleum levy,” he said.
“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif should tell us how much more will the public be fleeced?” he asked. He added that the rulers were enjoying free petrol, free electricity and other perks when it had become difficult for people to make both ends meet.
He said preparations for the September 20 Islamabad march announced by JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman were under way and registration had begun. “Negotiations with the government will also continue,” he said.
The JI leader said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ahsan Iqbal had conveyed to the JI the prime minister’s message that talks would be held on Tuesday on petroleum levy and from Wednesday on IPPs.
“The JI welcomes the government’s decision and hopes that decisions will be made on the IPP matter that are in the larger interest of the country and the people. The public can no longer bear expensive electricity and unjust burdens,” he said.
He explained that the JI’s protests were not limited to Karachi but were ongoing across the country as they aimed at providing relief to the public from the petroleum levy and protecting public interests in the IPP agreements.
Comparing regional fuel prices, he said between February 10 and September 10, diesel prices rose by only 9 per cent in India and 15 per cent in Bangladesh, while in Pakistan the increase was 41 per cent.
“The Iranian president has announced that one day, the head of government will come to office on a bicycle, while our rulers are not ready to cut their own perks while increasing the tax burden on the people,” he lamented.
Earlier, a teachers’ session was held at the protest venue, which was attended by a large number of educators. The Pakistan Engineers Forum’s Karachi chapter also announced its support for the sit-in. Led by Imran Ahmed, a delegation of the forum assured the JI leader of participation in the September 20 Islamabad march.
