Govt, Jamaat-e-Islami Talks to Reach Final Round on November 10

Lahore: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar telephoned Jamaat-e-Islami deputy chief Liaqat Baloch on Saturday and discussed the latest situation in negotiations between the government and the party.

According to Liaqat Baloch, the sub-committee of the government and Jamaat-e-Islami has met, after which the technical committee has also completed its discussions. He said the government should now take steps regarding the petroleum levy and public relief.

He said the final round of talks between the sub-committees of the government and Jamaat-e-Islami will be held on Tuesday, 10 November, at the Foreign Office building, chaired by Ishaq Dar.

Ishaq Dar said Jamaat-e-Islami’s protest was peaceful and within democratic limits, and several public relief objectives had been achieved as a result. He said the petroleum levy issue was also under consideration for resolution.

On the same day in Karachi, addressing a press conference at Idara Noor-e-Haq, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman said that if the government did not take practical steps to abolish the petroleum levy, the party would return to the streets. He said the campaign against the levy would continue until relief reached the public.

Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman said the government collects Rs150 billion every month through this tax. He said Ishaq Dar had assured him that the relevant figures would be provided within a day or two. Dar’s position was that abolishing the levy would also benefit owners of large vehicles.

In response, Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman proposed raising the levy on expensive vehicles from Rs100 to Rs200 and providing relief to middle and low-income groups. He also said that in a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif he had requested time to consider further relief measures, though the party’s core demand remained the abolition of the levy.