Lahore: A government delegation on Thursday met Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman at Mansoorah and offered negotiations on the party's demand for withdrawal of the petroleum levy, as the JI's nationwide shutter-down strike was observed across the country.

The delegation comprising Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Reforms Ahsan Iqbal, Prime Minister's Special Assistant on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan and Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique held talks with the JI chief and later addressed a joint press conference.

Hafiz Naeemur Rehman made it clear that JI sit-ins and protests in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and other cities would continue during the negotiations and until the party's demands were accepted. 'The sit-ins will continue throughout the negotiation process. JI's peaceful struggle should not be mistaken for weakness.'

He constituted a six-member committee, headed by JI Vice Emir Liaquat Baloch, to negotiate with the government on the petroleum levy. The committee includes Deputy Secretary Syed Firasat Shah, Emir JI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa North Inayatullah Khan, Emir JI Lahore Ziauddin Ansari Advocate, Islamabad Emir Engineer Nasrullah Randhawa and Naveed Ali Baig.

JI Special Assistant Umair Idrees, JI Information Secretary Shakil Ahmed Turabi and JI Social Media head Salman Sheikh also attended the meeting and presser. The JI chief said the ongoing protests, now in their 19th day, were not aimed at securing political gains but sought relief for ordinary citizens from inflation, high electricity prices and taxes on petroleum products. He said more than Rs130 per litre was being collected from consumers in petroleum levy and other taxes, arguing that the government had failed to provide relief despite declining international oil prices and the difficult economic conditions.

Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said around 40% of Pakistan's population was living below the poverty line, while expensive fuel and electricity had placed an unbearable burden on more than 90% of the population.

He said JI's technical team had prepared detailed proposals on abolishing the petroleum levy and would present them during negotiations, adding that the party would explain how consumer relief could be provided without undermining the economy.

Ahsan Iqbal said the government would consider JI's proposals seriously and provide maximum possible relief within available fiscal space. He appreciated the party's peaceful campaign but cautioned against allowing protests to create disorder, while citing the government's commitments to the IMF.

Rana Sanaullah said formal negotiations with the JI committee would begin on Monday and expressed hope that substantial progress would be made on the demands within two weeks.