ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) will hold a nationwide shutter-down strike on Thursday, Sept. 3, demanding the withdrawal of taxes and levies and lower petrol prices, party chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said on Wednesday, as the group’s protest campaign puts fresh pressure on the government.
Hafiz Naeem called on people across Pakistan to support the strike and make it successful. He claimed that more than 17 billion rupees had been paid to several independent power producers for electricity.
Hafiz Naeem said JI would also stage protests at five locations in Peshawar. He said the party could expand its sit-ins to Islamabad and Rawalpindi but stressed that its demonstrations would remain peaceful.
Trend Campaign Alert 🚨
Join the nationwide conversation and make your voice count.
Today, we launch the 3 September Strike trend campaign to demand relief from unjust petroleum levy and excessive taxation that continue to burden the people of Pakistan.
Raise your voice,… pic.twitter.com/rBfVthriHz
— Jamaat e Islami Pakistan (@JIPOfficial) August 29, 2026
The JI chief accused the sugar, independent power producer, tax and sugarcane sectors of benefiting at the expense of ordinary Pakistanis. He claimed the sugar industry profited whether sugar was exported or imported while consumers continued to face rising prices.
He said inflation had climbed by 11.2% and criticized for failing to provide adequate coverage of the party’s 18-day sit-in. He said electricity prices had instead fallen by 16 rupees following the sit-in.
He also warned against attempts to create divisions between Sindhis and Muhajirs, saying such conflicts should not be encouraged.
The government has formed a committee to negotiate with Jamaat-e-Islami over its ongoing sit-in, according to reports. A government delegation is expected to meet JI officials at Mansoorah in Lahore Thursday to discuss the party’s demands and protest campaign.
In recent days, the federal government has faced mounting pressure over successive fuel price hikes and their impact on inflation. The pressure has intensified after authorities shifted from a 15-day fuel price review to a daily pricing mechanism amid volatility in global oil markets following renewed hostilities in the Middle East.
The delegation will include Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah and Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal, according to the reports. The talks could provide an opportunity for both sides to address JI’s demands as the party prepares for its nationwide strike.
