Lahore: JI has announced to observe wheel jam strike all over the country against inflation, rising prices of petroleum products, and levy .
JI Amir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has said while addressing a press conference in Mansoora Tuesday that the whole nation is in dire straits due to surge in prices of petroleum products. The prices of petroleum products are being increased under the pretext of war.
Shahbaz Sharif should tell what is relevance of levy and other taxes with war. If taxes are abolished then the price of petrol cannot exceed Rs 250 per liter. Now a new job has been started that the prices of petroleum products are being determined on daily basis. These powers have been given by the government to OGRA.
Announcing to block all highways all over the country on August 7 he said that first of all corner meetings and dharnas will be held in this regard . Then important highways will be blocked in provincial capitals on August 7 . This protest will be peaceful. Ambulances will be given passage during this shrike.
JI Amir said petroleum levy has no relevance with OGRA as per law. Government is recovering Rs 1800 billion annually under the head of petroleum levy. Its burden is being shifted to motorcyclists, laborers and middle class.
Declaring it economic terrorism he said tax is being collected through various means from those who are not included in tax net. JI is not against defence budget, he said adding it is however opposed to the privileges given to judges, senior military officers, bureaucracy, members of assembly and other senior government officials.
He held basic health centers and government schools are being sold out. People are being misled by changing their name. Poverty has surged in Punjab.
He demanded that any progress in respect of IPPs agreements be made public. Loadshedding is continuing despite the fact country has capacity to generate electricity. People are paying the price of electricity which is not being produced.
Expressing concern over situation in Balochistan he said if foreign elements are involved then stopping them is too responsibility of state.
The permanent solution to Balochistan should be found through dialogue and in consultation with all stake holders. JI intends to convene a grand national conference for this purpose.
Stressing for addressing AJK situation through talks he said the solution to political conflicts should be found in democratic way. To a question he said government should take action against Khawaja Asif in connection with his statement.