Islamabad: Jamaat-e-Islami North Punjab Emir Dr. Tariq Saleem has demanded the immediate abolition of the petroleum levy, saying the government was placing an additional financial burden on the public through taxes and levies on petroleum products.
Addressing a Ijtm e Arkan of Jhelum district, he termed the Prime Minister's fuel relief package inadequate and said the government should instead withdraw additional taxes and levies to provide meaningful relief to ordinary citizens. The government has launched a targeted fuel relief scheme for motorcycles, rickshaws and vehicles up to 800cc following the recent rise in petroleum prices.
Dr. Tariq Saleem said thousands of people had endorsed Jamaat-e-Islami's position by signing its campaign against petroleum levies. He added that the party would continue raising its voice for economically vulnerable segments of society and would persist with protests, rallies and marches until, in its view, effective relief was provided. He said Jamaat-e-Islami was struggling for the rights of the general public rather than for the interests of any individual or political family. He called upon the rulers to reduce what he described as extravagant lifestyles, privileges and unnecessary expenditures instead of shifting the burden of inflation onto the people. The JI leader said the abolition of additional taxes and levies on petroleum products was essential for reducing the pressure on household budgets. He added that the party believed in peaceful political struggle and dialogue, but warned that if there was no meaningful progress on public demands, the scope of its protests would be expanded.
Dr. Tariq Saleem also criticized what he described as widespread corruption and misuse of public resources. He said parliamentary democracy had suffered because political parties were dominated by particular individuals and families. Referring to the 18th Constitutional Amendment, he said although powers had been devolved from the federation to the provinces, the provinces had failed to take sufficient steps to further transfer political, administrative and financial authority to the grassroots level through effective local government institutions. Article 140A of the Constitution provides for provincial legislation establishing local government systems and devolving political, administrative and financial responsibility and authority to elected local representatives.
JI Pakistan Naib Ameer Dr. Osama Razi, Deputy Secretary General Azhar Iqbal Hassan and JI Jhelum District Ameer Dr. Qasim Mehmood Chaudhry also addressed the gathering.
Dr. Tariq Saleem reiterated that Jamaat-e-Islami would continue its peaceful political campaign and public mobilization on issues including inflation, petroleum levies and economic relief.