Karachi: Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi chief Monem Zafar Khan on Tuesday said the petroleum levy was an act of 'cruelty' against 250 million people of the country, and political parties that remained silent on it were equally complicit in the government's 'injustice and crime.'Addressing a press conference at the Governor House sit-in on its 24th day, Monem Zafar Khan said JI would not back down from its struggle against the levy. 'Sit-ins that began in 4 cities have now spread to 30 cities,' he said.He rejected Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah's claim that 'no other city has a local government system like Karachi.'The truth is that the 'system' working in Sindh cannot be found anywhere else because its strings for corruption run from the grassroots level to the mayor's office, Bilawal House and the Presidency, he added.'35 million people are deprived of basic facilities. Tragedies and incidents of looting are taking place in the city every day,' he said while highlighting recent incidents including a f ire at a Landhi factory, a blaze in the mayor's office at KMC headquarters, the snatching of Rs25 million in Korangi and Rs6.5 million from an Edhi centre.'Armed robberies and looting have become a daily routine in the city. 51 citizens have lost their lives in such incidents this year so far,' he said.Zafar also criticised the government for awarding medals to the FBR chairman and his team 'despite reported corruption of Rs1,100 billion under the FBR's nose.' He said parties in power were 'in the same boat' when it came to salaries and perks but had no concern for public issues.'Rs85 per litre levy and Rs130 in taxes are being collected on every litre of petrol. Every common citizen is being forced to pay this extortion tax and buy the most expensive petrol in the country's history,' he said.On the occasion, he strongly condemned what he called 'violence and worst treatment' by the Sindh government and police against families of Pakistanis who have been held hostage by Somali pirates for 139 days.H e demanded the government take effective steps for the immediate recovery of the hostages. 'Jamaat-e-Islami stands with these oppressed families and is contacting the Foreign Office, Interior Ministry and every government level for them,' he said.Zafar said the struggle against the petroleum levy and the 'Haq Do Karachi' movement would continue. 'If the levy tax is abolished, petrol prices will come down and as a result food prices will also decrease,' he said.