The government and Jamaat-e-Islami have formed teams to negotiate the petrol levy protest.

LAHORE – A government delegation led by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal met Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rahman in Lahore on Thursday to end the party’s sit-in against the petroleum levy, after which both sides formed teams for talks.

The government delegation met the leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami at Mansoora in Lahore. The government negotiating team includes Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah and Punjab Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique. The negotiation team of Jamaat-e-Islami will be led by Deputy Amir Liaquat Baloch.

Later, while addressing the press conference, Ahsan Iqbal said that everyone wants relief for the people and for this purpose the government has formed a team.

He said that we have asked Jamaat-e-Islami to submit any proposals that will reduce the burden of petrol prices on the people, we are ready for negotiations.

Iqbal said that the government does not want the country to face a situation that would benefit its enemies. He added that the current situation demands that we all work together to maintain internal peace.

Rana Sanaullah said that Hafiz Naeemur Rahman had informed the government that Jamaat-e-Islami had proposals that could provide relief to the people. He said that the government will implement the viable proposals of the party.

Hafiz Naeemur Rahman said that Jamaat-e-Islami has been holding sit-ins at 30 places across the country for the past 19 days.

He said that we have no desire to stage a sit-in, we are doing it because of the problems faced by the people, adding that in the last six years poverty has increased by 33% in the country.

He said that the motorcyclist is being forced to pay a tax equal to 35 percent of the price of one liter of petrol.

“People are being forced to pay for electricity that is not generated,” he said, adding that the government has increased the petroleum levy instead of suspending it.

Hafiz Naeem claimed that 8 trillion rupees have been collected since the petroleum levy was launched.

“This year, the government has collected more than its target through the levy,” he said, adding that inflation has made it extremely difficult for people to live.

He said that Jamaat-e-Islami had formed a committee headed by Liaquat Baloch to negotiate with the government.

Hafiz Naeem said that our demands include reduction in petrol prices and petroleum levy, reduction in expenditure related to IPP and reduction in bread prices.

He insisted that petroleum levy should be abolished and petrol prices should be reduced. “Even those who are not subject to income tax are effectively paying 35 percent tax on petrol,” he said.

According to Hafiz Naeem, the main purpose of the petroleum levy was to improve the refineries, but the levy continued to be collected even during the war.

He said that a complete strike was observed in many cities on Wednesday. He further said that sit-ins will continue and negotiations will also continue.

Hafiz Naeem also criticized capacity payments for regasification plants and said a government report showed that more than 40 percent of the population was living below the poverty line.

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