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Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has warned the government of expanding protests across the country if the petroleum levy is not withdrawn. Speaking at a press conference at the party’s ongoing protest camp outside the Punjab chief minister’s residence in Lahore on Tuesday, the JI chief said the demonstrations had entered their 10th day. He said public patience had reached its limit and demanded immediate relief from rising fuel prices and taxes. Rehman warned that the party could announce a nationwide strike, block roads and march towards Islamabad if the government failed to meet its demands. The JI leader said the date for a nationwide shutdown would be announced on 13th Rabi-ul-Awwal. He added that demonstrations would continue during Eid Milad-un-Nabi ﷺ. According to Rehman, the JI had mobilised supporters in all four provinces. He said the protest movement would be expanded if the government continued to ignore public concerns. He criticised the petroleum levy and other fuel-related taxes, saying ordinary citizens were struggling to cope with increasing living costs. He particularly highlighted the difficulties faced by commuters, students, workers and motorcyclists. Rehman also demanded that the price of roti be reduced to Rs10. The JI emir accused the government of placing the burden of economic difficulties on the public. He argued that fuel price increases had added to the financial pressure on households while the government had failed to provide sufficient relief. He also raised concerns about alleged irregularities in coal imported for independent power producers (IPPs). Rehman called for a forensic audit and an independent investigation into coal-related transactions. He claimed that consumers were being made to pay for expensive fuel, electricity that was not produced and costly arrangements involving IPPs. He said the public should not be forced to bear the financial consequences of alleged mismanagement. Rehman recalled the JI’s earlier campaign against IPPs and claimed that public pressure had helped reduce electricity prices by around Rs10 per unit. The JI chief said his party was prepared to intensify its campaign if the government failed to respond. He described a nationwide shutdown, road blockades and a march on Islamabad as possible next steps. “Do not test our resolve,” he warned. Rehman also criticised the political system and questioned the performance of the ruling coalition. He alleged that governments without genuine public support remained unable to address the problems faced by ordinary citizens. He criticised the PPP’s governance in Sindh and raised concerns about what he called political families dominating Punjab. He also questioned the continued delay in holding local government elections. Regarding the Punjab government, the JI leader said its major announcements could not hide failures in dealing with basic public problems. Rehman maintained that the JI’s campaign was aimed at securing relief for the people rather than serving any personal or political interest. He invited the government’s negotiating team to visit the protest camp and clearly explain when the petroleum levy would be abolished. He said the JI would not travel to Islamabad simply to attend another briefing without concrete assurances. The JI emir also commented on a recent incident involving a security official at Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology in Islamabad. He demanded a transparent, merit-based investigation and said legal action should be taken against anyone found responsible, regardless of their position.

Islamabad: The Pakistan Medical Association Punjab has warned the Federal Board of Revenue that doctors could launch legal action, protests and even withdraw medical services if the proposed Point of Sale system is imposed on private healthcare establishments. PMA Punjab President Dr Kamran Saeed Sheikh said the medical community was ready to fight the issue through courts, public protests, banners and awareness campaigns if its concerns were not addressed. He said the doctors could also consider token strikes or withdrawal of services. The warning came during a press conference at the National Press Club, where the PMA Punjab provincial council met in Islamabad. Doctors from different parts of Punjab discussed the FBR initiative concerning POS systems and the requirements linked to Section 175C. Dr Kamran Saeed Sheikh said doctors were not refusing to pay taxes. He stressed that the medical profession should not be treated like an ordinary business because healthcare is an essential public service. According to Dr Kamran Saeed Sheikh, the proposed system could create additional technical and financial difficulties for doctors and ultimately increase the cost of healthcare for ordinary patients. He also raised concerns about patient privacy. He said information about a patient’s illness, visits and expenses must remain confidential and should not be exposed through systems that could allow unnecessary access or monitoring. The PMA Punjab president said private healthcare providers were already paying taxes on several areas, including electricity, equipment, water, gas and buildings. He argued that adding more technical requirements could take doctors away from their main responsibility of treating patients. Dr Kamran Saeed Sheikh also warned that doctors were already leaving Pakistan and that healthcare establishments in some areas were closing rather than opening. He said further administrative pressure could make the situation worse. The PMA leadership said it had already held two meetings with the FBR and had also sent written communications explaining its position. According to Dr Kamran Saeed Sheikh, the discussions had not produced the result the doctors wanted. He said the medical community was prepared to keep all legal and democratic options open. “We will fight legal battles, go to court and protest,” Dr Kamran Saeed Sheikh said during the briefing. He also warned that doctors could come onto the streets and consider withdrawal of services if the issue was not resolved. Dr Maqsood Zahid, President Elect of PMA Punjab, also questioned whether POS technology was suitable for medical services. He argued that healthcare was different from selling ordinary products because doctors provide services that can be required at any time, including emergencies during the night. He said doctors could not stop treating an emergency patient simply because a machine was not working or an internet connection had failed. Dr Maqsood Zahid said many patients also receive treatment without paying the full amount. Some patients receive services at half rates, while others are treated free of charge. He questioned how such cases would be properly reflected through a system designed mainly around payment records. He gave the example of a hospital in Mian Channu, Khanewal, where doctors reportedly deal with many patients without charging them. He said that out of 100 patients, around 60 could be treated without receiving even a single penny, making a simple payment based system difficult to apply to real medical practice. The doctors also argued that medical treatment cannot be measured in the same way as the sale of a retail product because the cost and complexity of treatment can change from patient to patient. Dr Maqsood Zahid said the medical community was willing to discuss a suitable tax formula with the government if a system could be designed according to the realities of medical practice. The PMA representatives said doctors across the country were being represented in discussions on the issue. They said representatives from Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Karachi, Islamabad and Punjab had participated in consultations. The PMA also raised the problem of smaller clinics in remote areas. Doctors argued that poor internet services, electricity problems, shortage of technical workers and maintenance costs could create serious difficulties for clinics outside major cities. Dr Muzaffar Niazi said doctors would not accept a situation in which the medical profession was treated like a normal retail business. He said doctors were prepared to pursue legal action, demonstrations, public awareness campaigns and other forms of protest. The PMA leadership also stressed that it was not against taxation itself. Dr Maqsood Zahid said doctors were law abiding citizens and accepted that taxes were necessary to run the country. The main demand was for the government to develop a system that recognised the special nature of healthcare and did not place unnecessary financial and administrative pressure on doctors or patients. The PMA Punjab had already formally raised the issue with the FBR. In a letter dated January 20, 2025, Dr Kamran Saeed Sheikh, President PMA Punjab, asked the FBR Chairman to defer the installation of POS systems in private healthcare establishments. The letter warned that additional administrative, technical and financial requirements could increase the cost of healthcare and reduce the time available for doctors to provide medical treatment. It also pointed to problems such as unreliable electricity and internet services, shortage of technical staff and difficulties faced by small and medium sized clinics. PMA Punjab also warned in the letter that additional pressure on private healthcare could discourage young doctors and female doctors from starting private practices in remote and less developed areas and could contribute to further brain drain from Pakistan. The letter was also copied to the President of Pakistan, Prime Minister, Governor Punjab, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Chief Minister Punjab, Speaker Punjab Assembly, provincial health ministers and the Chairman Punjab Health Care Commission. The PMA leadership has now made clear that the dispute is no longer limited to a technical discussion over a machine. Doctors say the issue involves taxation, patient privacy, the cost of healthcare and the ability of small clinics to continue providing services. If the disagreement remains unresolved,