ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan Naib Ameer Liaqat Baloch on Tuesday rejected the Rs100 relief announced by the prime minister on petrol, saying it could not be a substitute for the complete abolition of the petroleum levy.
Speaking to the media after the third round of talks between the JI negotiating team and the government team in Islamabad on September 15, 2026, Baloch said the party’s protest and its call for September 20 had only one objective: the complete removal of the petroleum levy.
He warned that if the demand was not accepted, people from across the country would march towards Islamabad on September 20.
“The Rs100 relief announced by the prime minister is rejected outright. It cannot, in any way, replace the complete abolition of the petroleum levy,” Baloch said. He added that the government would not be able to escape public pressure until what he described as a “extortion-like” petroleum levy was abolished.
The third round of talks was held between the Jamaat-e-Islami negotiating team and representatives of the government. The JI team was led by Liaqat Baloch and included Syed Firasat Shah, Nasrullah Randhawa, Inayatullah Khan and Ziauddin Ansari.
From the government side, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, Energy Minister Awais Khan Leghari, Law and Justice Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, along with officials, gave briefings.
Baloch said the task forces formed by the prime minister gave detailed briefings during the talks on prices of petroleum products and matters related to independent power producers (IPPs). He said Federal Minister for Energy Awais Leghari also briefed the JI team on progress regarding IPPs.
The JI leader said the party was listening to all briefings by government officials, but the real benefit to the people could only come through the complete abolition of the petroleum levy. He accused the government of trying to divert the direction of public pressure.
He said the public had been burdened with Rs130 in the form of levies and taxes, and that a real relief could be provided if this burden was reduced. Criticising the ruling class, he said it was not ready to give up its luxuries. He also alleged that people linked with the same parties were part of the sugar mafia and were being continuously favoured.
Addressing the prime minister, Baloch said cosmetic relief measures were of no use to the people. He also alleged that the amount collected under the climate support levy had been usurped instead of being spent for its intended purpose.
Referring to the briefing on IPPs, Baloch said Federal Minister Awais Leghari and General Zafar informed the meeting that matters relating to 54 IPPs had been finalised, while 36 other IPPs were also being brought to the final stage.
He said the government had admitted that Rs4,600 billion had been saved through negotiations with IPPs. “If such a huge saving has been made, why has its benefit not been passed on to the people?” he asked.
Baloch said the briefing proved that the figures presented by Jamaat-e-Islami were being validated through the government’s own documents.
He reiterated that until the petroleum levy was completely abolished, the government would continue to face pressure and people from across the country would head towards Islamabad. Jamaat-e-Islami also repeated its demand for the complete end of severe loadshedding.
