ISLAMABAD: The government has proposed to abolish the petroleum levy for one year, amid ongoing negotiations with Jamaat-e-Islami over its super long march.
According to a private TV channel quoting sources, Jamaat-e-Islami’s super long march, which is currently is continuing but in the meantime the government has once again contacted the Jamaat-e-Islami leadership and insisted on stopping the long march. Sources said that Jamaat-e-Islami has taken a firm stand and reiterated that the super long march will continue until the levy is completely abolished.
Sources said that the proposal to abolish the petroleum levy for one year has come from the government side, and it is expected that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will soon contact the Jamaat-e-Islami leadership.
There is a strong possibility of a breakthrough before Jamaat-e-Islami’s super long march reaches Islamabad. According to sources, the government delegation has offered a major public relief package. This public relief package will be subject to approval by Jamaat-e-Islami’s technical committee.
Sources added that the government delegation has assured that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is on board, and a meeting between the Prime Minister and the Jamaat-e-Islami leadership is expected upon the Prime Minister’s return to the country.
Jamaat-e-Islami has indicated that if the government is serious about providing relief, it can consider a pause in the long march; however, the long march will not be ended until the final abolition of what it calls the levy extortion.
Members of the government delegation are also in favour of abolishing the levy, with one government member saying that they are public representatives and will be happy over any step that provides relief to the people. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to contact the Jamaat-e-Islami leadership soon.
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