Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami launches rail march to Islamabad — Dawn
In Pakistan, the Jamaat-e-Islami party on September 20 launched a rail protest march from Karachi to Islamabad, demanding the abolition of the petroleum levy. According to Dawn, party emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that if this demand is not met, the protest could develop into a movement to remove the government.
March from Karachi
Rehman addressed supporters at Karachi Cantonment railway station before departing for the capital. According to him, participants also headed to Islamabad via different routes in motorcades.
According to the party’s plan, the train was to travel through Hyderabad, Landhi, Nawabshah, Rohri and Sukkur. A rally was scheduled in Sukkur at 20:00, and the following day participants were to depart for Multan.
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Protesters’ demands
Jamaat-e-Islami is holding nationwide actions against the petroleum levy, which exceeds 100 Pakistani rupees per litre. Rehman said the march aims to reduce the financial burden on the country’s least affluent residents.
According to him, after the levy is abolished, the price of petrol could quickly fall to about 200 rupees per litre. He also claimed that actions across the country have been continuing for 36–37 days, including in Hyderabad, Sukkur, Mirpur Khas, Larkana, Naushahro Feroze, Rawalpindi, Gujrat and cities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Rehman called on supporters to take to street protests and warned that the situation could get out of control if authorities attempt to suppress the movement.
