Jamaat-e-Islami to Hold Nationwide Protest on August 7 Against Petroleum Levy, Karachi Rally to Start from Mazar-e-Quaid

Karachi: Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Ameer Muneem Zafar Khan has announced that the party will observe a nationwide Day of Protest on August 7 against rising fuel prices and the petroleum levy, following the call of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Ameer Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman. In Karachi, a protest rally will be taken out from Mazar-e-Quaid, while protest camps will be established across all districts on August 6, accompanied by more than 1,500 corner meetings and youth rallies organized by JI Youth.

Addressing a press conference at Idara Noor-e-Haq, Muneem Zafar Khan said the government has imposed an unbearable financial burden on the public through what he described as an excessive petroleum levy. He claimed that more than 100 million Pakistanis are living below the poverty line while the government continues to collect heavy taxes on every litre of petrol. Referring to Karachi alone, he claimed that the city’s more than 4.2 million motorcyclistsare paying approximately Rs530 million daily, Rs16 billion monthly, and Rs192 billion annually in petroleum levy. He demanded the immediate abolition of the levy and a substantial reduction in fuel prices.

Criticizing Karachi’s monsoon preparedness, Muneem Zafar said nearly 200 K-Electric feeders tripped as soon as the first spell of rain began, leaving several parts of the city without electricity. He alleged that despite the allocation of Rs530 million for drain cleaning, the work remained unsatisfactory, raising concerns that heavy rainfall could lead to widespread urban flooding. He urged emergency services, rescue agencies, and local government representatives to remain fully prepared to respond to any emergency.

The JI leader also alleged that in several locations, garbage removed from storm-water drains had been dumped back into the same drains, further affecting the drainage system. He criticized the city’s mayor for not engaging elected town chairmen in addressing civic issues.

Muneem Zafar Khan further criticized the Sindh government over electricity, water supply, healthcare, and infrastructure projects. He alleged that despite K-Electric’s privatization, residents continue to face prolonged load-shedding and rising electricity bills. He also claimed that more than half of Karachi’s population still lacks access to clean drinking water, forcing residents to rely on expensive water tankers. He questioned delays in the K-IV project, the road construction between NIPA and Hasan Square, highlighted the recent death of a child after falling into an open drain in Mawach Goth, raised concerns over HIV-affected children receiving treatment at Valika Hospital, and criticized what he termed poorly planned infrastructure projects in the city.

The press conference was also attended by JI Karachi Information Secretary Zahid Askari, Public Aid Committee Secretary Najeeb Ayubi, Vice President Imran Shahid, and Senior Deputy Information Secretary Sohaib Ahmed.