Speaking at a press conference after meeting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday, Hafiz Naeem said the party would not postpone its planned march. He urged the government to announce a relief package before the protest begins.
He said both sides had agreed to increase relief on petroleum products. However, the government favoured phased relief, while Jamaat-e-Islami was demanding the complete removal of the levy.
Hafiz Naeem said the government had sought another seven to 10 days for further discussions. He warned that the party could stage a sit-in if its demands were not met.
He maintained that the petroleum levy placed a heavy burden on low-income and middle-class households. He also claimed that Jamaat-e-Islami’s protests had pressured the government to offer relief.
The party chief said negotiations with the government would continue, but the Islamabad march would proceed as planned in mid-November.