ISLAMABAD: The federal government has once again contacted the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) to hold talks on ending the petroleum levy.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has contacted JI Deputy Amir Liaquat Baloch and said the government wanted to resolve the matter through negotiations. Iqbal said the government was willing to hold talks with the JI on Saturday (September 19).
Baloch has said that he would respond after consulting JI Amir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman and the party’s senior leadership, adding that the JI’s protest would continue until the petroleum levy was withdrawn.
Five rounds of talks have already been held between the government and the JI over the issue.
Earlier in September, the JI had refused to end its sit-ins against the petroleum levy and high electricity tariffs. The party said the protests would continue until solutions were found to people’s daily problems.
JI Amir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said the government team had held positive talks with the party on several issues, adding that 90 to 95 per cent of people were struggling to meet their basic needs, while poverty had increased by 33 per cent in six years.
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