As a third phase of nationwide protests looms on the horizon, federal authorities have reached out to Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) to defuse tensions surrounding the petroleum levy. According to Geo News, Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal contacted JI Vice Emir Liaquat Baloch to arrange a meeting between the government and opposition negotiating committees in Islamabad on Friday.
Geo News reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman are also scheduled to meet in Islamabad. The renewed outreach follows an announcement by JI that it will launch the third phase of its protest movement on Friday (October 23), featuring sit-ins across districts nationwide.
Background
According to Geo News, the government and JI agreed to form committees in early September during a planned nationwide strike to recommend measures for reducing the petroleum levy. On September 22, the JI chief announced the postponement of a long march—whose convoy had reached Multan—at the request of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, pending a meeting upon the prime minister's return. The JI leadership maintained that while they would meet the prime minister, they would not abandon their protest movement seeking lower fuel prices and the abolition of the levy. Previously, JI staged sit-ins at 510 locations and observed a shutdown strike, stating they would seek written assurances from the government before deciding their future course of action.
Why it matters
The ongoing discussions between the federal government and Jamaat-e-Islami directly impact ordinary citizens concerned with inflation and high fuel costs. With nationwide sit-ins planned across districts, the outcome of the scheduled meetings in Islamabad will determine whether the public faces further disruption or if the two sides can reach an agreement regarding the petroleum levy.
What's next
According to Geo News, government and JI negotiating committees are set to meet in Islamabad on Friday, alongside a scheduled meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, ahead of the planned protests.