Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has sought another 7 to 10 days to address Jamaat-e-Islami’s demand for the immediate abolition of the petroleum levy, JI chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman said on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters in Islamabad after meeting the prime minister, Hafiz Naeem said the party would not delay its planned march on the capital any further. He warned that the protest would take place in mid-November if the government failed to abolish the levy and provide relief to the public.

“We will not postpone our Islamabad march any longer. It will take place in mid-November, and it certainly will take place,” he said.

JI Demands Immediate Abolition of Petroleum Levy

Hafiz Naeem said both sides agreed on the need to expand relief for the public but differed on how the petroleum levy should be abolished.

According to the JI chief, the government wants to eliminate the levy gradually, while his party is demanding its immediate removal.

He claimed the government collects around Rs. 150 billion each month through the petroleum levy, calling it “extortion” at a time when people are struggling with inflation and high fuel costs.

Hafiz Naeem urged the government to announce a relief package and establish a clear mechanism to abolish the levy before the planned march. He warned that the party was “prepared for anything” if its demands were not met.

The JI delegation included Deputy Emir Liaquat Baloch, Deputy Secretary General Syed Farasat Shah, and Islamabad chapter chief Nasrullah Randhawa.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Senator Rana Sanaullah, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani also attended the meeting.

Jamaat-e-Islami has been protesting against the petroleum levy for more than two months amid high fuel prices. In September, the party postponed its long march at the prime minister’s request after its convoy reached Multan.