JI Lahore’s Citywide Signature Campaign Against Petroleum Levy Continues
Thousands of citizens signed against the petroleum levy at special signature camps set up outside hundreds of mosques across Lahore after Friday prayers.
In addition to 30 major central camps, signature camps and banners have been set up at hundreds of locations, including streets, neighbourhoods and marketplaces across the city, where citizens are participating in the campaign by registering their signatures.
LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore’s signature campaign for the withdrawal of the petroleum levy is continuing across various districts and zones of the city. According to Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore, signature camps have been established outside mosques, along major roads, at intersections and in commercial centres, where citizens, traders and people from different sections of society are participating.
The campaign was led by Acting Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore Khalid Ahmad Butt, Lahore Secretary Azhar Bilal, Deputy Secretaries, district and zone leaders, and local leadership. Special camps were also established outside various major mosques after Friday prayers, where citizens signed in support of the demand for withdrawal of the petroleum levy.
According to Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore, a central camp was established at Toke Wala Chowk, Shadbagh, in North Lahore. In Central Lahore, contacts were made with residents and traders at various locations, including Nagra Town, in Zones 172 and 173. Signature camps and door-to-door outreach activities were also conducted in various areas of Zone 165.
Signature camps were also organised in Manga Zone 166, Zone 169 South Lahore, Clifton Colony, Islampura, Sanda Kalan, Zone 157 and various areas of Raiwind, where citizens were contacted and invited to participate in the campaign.
In Zone 161 Model Town, a signature campaign was organised after Friday prayers at Dar-ul-Huda Mosque, L Block. Handbills were distributed among worshippers, while a large number of people signed against the petroleum levy. Participants expressed their support for the campaign through their signatures. Naib Ameer Halqa Malik Shahid Aslam also attended the activity and encouraged the workers.
In Zone 168 Mansoorah, a signature campaign was also held in Rana Town Unit of Ittifaq Town Halqa, where citizens participated and registered their signatures.
In Organisational Halqa Karbath, Zone 158, a signature campaign against the petroleum levy was conducted after Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid Abu Bakr Siddique, Havelian Karbath. Umar Hayat Bajwa addressed the gathering and urged citizens to participate actively in the campaign. The message of Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, “Change the system — the solution is only Jamaat-e-Islami,” was also conveyed to the public during the campaign.
Speaking to media representatives, Acting Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore Khalid Ahmad Butt said that, according to Jamaat-e-Islami, the participation of citizens across Lahore reflects public sentiment against the petroleum levy. He urged the government to immediately address the demand for withdrawal of the petroleum levy, saying that otherwise Jamaat-e-Islami would launch an even larger Super Long March from Multan.
Khalid Ahmad Butt said Jamaat-e-Islami would continue its struggle against inflation and the additional financial burden faced by the public. He said that after the ongoing signature campaign, a large and historic welcome would be accorded in Lahore to the Long March on the call of Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, while a large number of people from Lahore would join the Super Long March.
He further said that, according to Jamaat-e-Islami, the participation of hundreds of thousands of people in the signature campaign within a few days reflects growing public support for its campaign, which the party describes as a public referendum against the government’s policies.
