Levy Talks Near Breakthrough, Says Liaqat Baloch
Acting Emir Liaqat Baloch addressing a press conference in Islamabad
Islamabad: Nov 03: Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Acting Emir Liaqat Baloch has said that negotiations between the government and Jamaat-e-Islami over the abolition of the petroleum levy and provision of relief to the public have entered their final stage.
Both sides, he said while addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, have acknowledged that abolishing the petroleum levy is essential, while the government has also agreed to provide relief to the agricultural sector and owners of vehicles up to 1,000cc.
Deputy Secretary Syed Farasat Shah, Islamabad Emir Nasrullah Randhawa and Secretary Information Shakil Ahmad Tarabi were also present.
Baloch led team earlier held meeting with the government’s negotiating committee, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Baloch said the meeting was held in the context of the recent meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman.
Baloch described the meeting as the final round of negotiations, during which four key points were discussed in detail.
The government’s negotiating team included Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Rana Sanaullah. Jamaat-e-Islami was represented by Liaqat Baloch, Syed Farasat Shah and Engineer Nasrullah Randhawa.
Baloch said Jamaat-e-Islami had presented six proposals to the government to provide relief to the people. These included abolishing the petroleum levy, introducing a relief package, reducing public transport costs and extending relief to owners of vehicles above 800cc and the agricultural sector. He said the government had agreed to provide relief to farmers and owners of vehicles up to 1,000cc.
He maintained that although the government had announced some relief measures, the ruling elite remained unwilling to surrender their privileges. He criticised the government for allowing oil refineries to earn excessive profits and said there was no solid justification for continuing the petroleum levy.
According to Liaqat Baloch, the government’s negotiating team acknowledged that the relief extended to the public was the result of Jamaat-e-Islami’s nationwide protest movement. The government also recognised that Jamaat-e-Islami’s demand for abolishing the petroleum levy was based on facts.
He said both negotiating teams would prepare working papers on the gradual elimination of the levy and measures to provide relief to the public. The government would complete its working paper today, while representatives of both sides would meet again tomorrow to discuss further progress.
Baloch said Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman would review the draft agreement before announcing the party’s future course of action. He emphasised that the government must provide further relief to the people and make concrete progress towards abolishing the levy.
He further disclosed that he had spoken by telephone with Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, who is currently in Türkiye, briefed him on the progress of negotiations and sought his guidance.
He said Jamaat-e-Islami’s primary objective was to secure relief for the people, adding that even if the government did not give the party credit, providing relief to the public would itself be a major achievement.
He announced that upon his return from Türkiye, Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman would address Jamaat-e-Islami workers nationwide online and announce the party’s future strategy.