Pakistan talks with JI over march end without agreement — Dawn
In Pakistan, the fifth round of talks between the government and the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) party over a planned march on Islamabad ended without an agreement. Authorities asked for the action to be postponed due to security threats, but JI insists it will proceed until the levy on petroleum products is abolished, Dawn reports.
The talks were attended by Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah and Punjab minister Khawaja Salman Rafique. The JI delegation included party deputy emir Liaqat Baloch, acting secretary-general Nazir Ahmad Janjua and other party representatives.
Protesters’ demands
Baloch said that the march would remain necessary until the authorities abolish the levy. According to the publication, the total amount of taxes and duties on petrol is 114 rupees per litre, and on diesel fuel it is 100 rupees per litre.
JI has been holding sit-in protests in Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi and dozens of other locations across the country since August 16. Baloch said the party would continue the protest and the march if the government does not take practical steps to respond to the people’s demands.
The government delegation assured that people would soon receive additional assistance. Government representatives also spoke of pressure from the International Monetary Fund and an IMF delegation’s visit to Pakistan expected in the near future.
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March from Karachi
According to Baloch, the “Super Long March,” led by the JI emir, is to start from Karachi on Sunday. Talks between the government and the party began on September 7, and all five rounds ended without agreements.
JI leader Hafiz Naeemur Rehman previously said that protest columns from different regions would begin moving toward the capital on Sunday. He promised that the action would be peaceful and called on the authorities not to take measures against its participants.
Rehman also criticized the government’s fuel assistance package as insufficient. Under the current scheme, a subsidy of 100 rupees per litre within monthly limits is provided for designated categories of motorcycles, rickshaws, Qingqi rickshaws and cars with engines up to 800 cubic centimeters.
According to Rehman, the protest movement has been continuing for its 35th day, with more than 25 sit-in protests remaining across the country. He says that JI is gradually reducing their number as part of preparations for the march on Islamabad.
