Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Chief Slams Petroleum Levy, Says Government Has Burdened Citizens

Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi chief Munim Zafar has criticized the government over the petroleum levy, describing it as a “bhatta tax” and accusing the authorities of placing an unbearable financial burden on ordinary citizens. He said rising costs had made it increasingly difficult for families to educate their children and meet basic household expenses.

Zafar alleged that the ruling elite was “looting the pockets” of the public and said the petroleum levy remained one of the major issues affecting ordinary people, despite receiving little political attention. Taking a swipe at the PPP and PML-N, he said a competition between the two parties to “tell the truth” was currently underway, while claiming that the public continued to suffer from their policies.

The JI Karachi chief also criticized the city’s political and security situation, alleging that the public mandate had been undermined by imposing an “occupying mayor” and that street crime continued to plague Karachi. He said his party would launch a broad public awareness campaign to mobilize citizens and raise their voices against what he described as growing economic hardship and government neglect.