A Historic Wheel-Jam Protest Will Be Held Across Lahore and the Country on August 7 Against the Petroleum Levy
Government Must Refrain from Obstructing Peaceful Public Protest or Using Force: Ziauddin Ansari Advocate
Lahore: Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore, Ziauddin Ansari Advocate, has said that the petroleum levy is an oppressive and unbearable tax imposed on the people, adding further misery to citizens already suffering from soaring inflation. He demanded that the government immediately abolish the petroleum levy, warning that otherwise Jamaat-e-Islami would expand its protest movement in collaboration with the public.He expressed these views while addressing a press conference at Syed Maududi Islamic Centre. The press conference was attended by Lahore Secretary Azhar Bilal, Deputy Ameers Khalid Ahmed Butt and Chaudhry Muhammad Shaukat, President of the Public Aid Committee Qaiserz Sharif, Shahid Naveed Malik, along with other leaders and workers of Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore.Announcing the schedule of the public awareness campaign and the historic wheel-jam protest from August 1 to August 7, Ziauddin Ansari said that a motorcycle awareness rally would commence from Johar Town on August 1. A foot march will begin from Kahna on August 2 and culminate in a protest sit-in at Shanghai Bridge, while another protest sit-in will be held at Muslim Town Mor on August 6. He further stated that an extensive public contact campaign would continue across Lahore’s streets, neighborhoods, markets, intersections, and educational institutions until August 7 to mobilize citizens for the movement.He emphasized that the August 7 wheel-jam protest would represent the voices of ordinary citizens, students, motorcycle riders, delivery workers, laborers, transporters, and all those affected by inflation. He appealed to the people of Lahore to come out of their homes and participate peacefully in the protest to safeguard their constitutional, democratic, and economic rights.The Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore urged the government not to obstruct the democratic right to peaceful protest or resort to the use of force. He said Jamaat-e-Islami firmly believes in peaceful and democratic struggle. However, if the government attempts to suppress the protest or resorts to violence against peaceful demonstrators, it will bear full responsibility for the consequences, and the protest movement will intensify accordingly. He added that Jamaat-e-Islami has a proud history of don sacrifices, and its workers are prepared to make every sacrifice in the struggle for justice.Criticizing the recent remarks of the Federal Interior Minister, Ziauddin Ansari said the government is now admitting that the system has collapsed, whereas previously it claimed that the law and order situation in Balochistan could be resolved by a single Station House Officer (SHO). “If that was indeed the case, where is that SHO today?” he asked, adding that the government should acknowledge its failures instead of misleading the nation.He further said the government is continuously burdening the people by increasing the petroleum levy despite admitting that the country possesses sufficient petroleum reserves for several weeks. If adequate reserves are available, he questioned, what justifies the repeated increase in fuel prices? He noted that neighboring countries affected by regional tensions have not witnessed such sharp price hikes, making the government’s policy unjustifiable.He accused the government of shifting the burden of the Federal Board of, Revenue’s poor performance andf fiscal shortcomings onto the people through the petroleum levy. Jamaat-e-Islami, he said, demands the immediate abolition of the petroleum levy, a significant reduction in fuel prices, and urgent economic relief for the public.Condemning the baton charge and arrests of demonstrators expressing solidarity with Kashmir, he stated that the Kashmir dispute cannot be resolved through force or repression but only through dialogue and by recognizing the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.Concluding his address, Ziauddin Ansari Advocate reiterated that Jamaat-e-Islami’s protest movement would continue until the petroleum levy is abolished and meaningful economic relief is provided to the people. He called upon traders, students, transporters, workers, civil society organizations, and people from all walks of life to participate actively in the historic and peaceful wheel-jam protest on August 7.
