Islamabad: Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Punjab Dr. Tariq Saleem has said that the nationwide protest scheduled for August 7 is a movement for the protection of the fundamental rights of the people. He said millions of citizens will participate peacefully in demonstrations against heavy taxation on petroleum products, inflation, costly Independent Power Producers (IPPs) agreements, electricity load-shedding, and what he described as anti-people economic policies. He expressed these views while addressing a meeting held to review preparations for the nationwide protest called by Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman.
Dr. Tariq Saleem said the government has continued to impose new taxes and increase petroleum prices instead of providing relief to the public. He maintained that the petroleum levy has become an additional financial burden on citizens and argued that meaningful economic relief cannot be achieved without its abolition. He demanded that the government immediately abolish the petroleum levy, review what he described as expensive IPP contracts, take effective measures to end electricity load-shedding, and introduce practical policies to control inflation. He expressed confidence that the August 7 protest would become a historic public demonstration and compel the government to provide tangible relief to the people. Dr. Tariq Saleem further stated that the petroleum levy has effectively become an added financial burden on salaried employees and ordinary consumers. He said the government should immediately withdraw the levy and significantly reduce petroleum prices to lessen the impact of inflation on households.
Referring to the protest call issued by Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, he said the campaign has received support from religious scholars, traders, lawyers, students, workers, members of civil society, and people from various walks of life. He said that sit-ins will be organized on major highways across the country on August 7 as part of the protest. He urged the youth to participate actively in the demonstrations and support the movement in a peaceful and disciplined manner. According to the announced plan, emergency services, including ambulances, will be allowed to pass during the protests.