Jamaat-e-Islami defers Islamabad march after fuel-levy talks
After Hafiz Naeemur Rehman met Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, a six-member bipartisan panel will reshape fuel relief; JI still warns of a mid-November march if the petroleum levy stays.
The federal government persuaded Jamaat-e-Islami on Tuesday to postpone its planned march on Islamabad after Hafiz Naeemur Rehman met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
A six-member bipartisan committee—three JI members plus Ahsan Iqbal, Ishaq Dar and Rana Sanaullah—will expand fuel relief and work on phasing out levies in the next budget.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said about 12.5 million citizens already benefit from the relief scheme.
Hafiz Naeem gave the government seven to 10 days and said JI will march in mid-November if the petroleum levy is not abolished.
JI says sit-ins and long-march preparations continue while talks go on; the party wants immediate levy abolition, the government a phased approach.