Government delegation meets Ameer
Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Hafiz Naeem.
Jamaat-e-Islami announces to continue sit-ins with negotiations against petroleum levy.
Lahore:(Reporter Nadia Tabassum) According to Global Times Media Europe, a government delegation led by Ahsan Iqbal met with Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman to end Jamaat-e-Islami’s sit-ins against petroleum levy, after which teams were formed from both sides for negotiations. The government delegation met with Jamaat-e-Islami leaders in Mansoura, Lahore. The government’s negotiation team included Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah and Khawaja Salman Rafique. On behalf of Jamaat-e-Islami, Deputy Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Liaquat Baloch led the negotiation team. Later, in a press conference, Ahsan Iqbal said that we all want the people to get relief, for this the government has formed a team, he also told Jamaat-e-Islami that if there are any suggestions that can reduce the burden of petrol prices, then give them, he told Jamaat-e-Islami to form a team, we are ready for negotiations, we do not want a situation in the country at the moment from which the enemy can take advantage, the current situation requires that we all work together to maintain internal peace. On this occasion, Rana Sanaullah said that Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman has told him that he has such suggestions that can provide relief to the people, the government will implement the workable suggestions of Jamaat-e-Islami. Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman said that Jamaat-e-Islami has been holding sit-ins in 30 places in the country for the past 19 days, we have no interest in holding sit-ins due to the problems faced by the people. Yes, poverty in the country has increased by 33 percent in 6 years, a motorcyclist is forced to pay 35 percent tax on a liter of petrol, the public is forced to pay for electricity that is not even produced, instead of suspending the levy on petrol, it was increased, since the levy began, 8 thousand billion rupees have been collected. Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman said that this year the government has collected more than the target in terms of levy, inflation has ruined the lives of the people, we have formed a committee under the leadership of Liaquat Baloch, our demands are to reduce the price of petrol, levy, IPPs and the price of bread, the levy on petrol should be abolished and the price should also be reduced, those who are not taxed are also paying 35 percent tax, the purpose of the petroleum levy was to improve refineries, we were charged levy even in war situations. He said that a complete strike has taken place in many cities today, sit-ins will continue and talks will also be held. Capacity payments are also being collected on regasification plants. According to a government report, more than 40 percent of the people are below the poverty line.