Jamaat-e-Islami announces third phase of Islamabad long march against petroleum levy from October 23
Jamaat-e-Islami will launch the third phase of its long march towards Islamabad on October 23, with protests at all district headquarters, to press the government to abolish the petroleum levy.
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan on Wednesday announced the third phase of its long march towards Islamabad, set to begin on October 23, 2026, in a renewed push for the abolition of the petroleum levy and relief for the public.
The announcement was made by JI Deputy Emir Liaquat Baloch at a press conference in Lahore. Protest demonstrations will be held at all district headquarters across the country on October 23 as part of the fresh phase of the campaign.
Baloch described JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman’s call for nationwide protests as a timely move, reiterating that the party would continue its struggle for the withdrawal of the petroleum levy and relief for the people. He said the government had proposed that the negotiating committees of both sides meet before a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, and urged both committees to finalise their recommendations at the earliest.
Baloch added that JI has received no information about progress by the government’s negotiating team, and said the party would not back down from its “principled and constitutional position”.
The party had originally announced the march on September 20, but postponed it after a telephone call from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who assured he would meet the JI leadership after returning home — a meeting that has yet to take place.
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