Islamabad Desi news: JI long march and Pakistan's role in US-Iran mediation
Islamabad is at the center of two major developments this week. Domestically, Jamaat-e-Islami is mobilizing supporters from across the country for a convergence on the federal capital to demand abolition of the petroleum levy. Internationally, Pakistan's role as a mediator in the US-Iran conflict has earned recognition from the United Nations Secretary-General, who announced plans to visit Islamabad.
Jamaat-e-Islami finalises long march to Islamabad in protest against petroleum levy
Jamaat-e-Islami, one of Pakistan's major religious political parties, has confirmed plans for a major march on Islamabad to press its demand for the abolition of the country's petroleum levy. JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announced at a press conference that the party's march would converge on the federal capital on September 23 and 24, with a train march departing Karachi on September 20. Participants from Lahore and surrounding districts of southern Punjab are expected to join the convoy as it makes its way toward Islamabad via the Grand Trunk Road. Speaking at the press conference, Rehman stated that the party's sole demand was the scrapping of the petroleum levy and that demonstrators would not block roads. JI had earlier rejected the government's special fuel relief scheme, which offers a per-litre discount on petrol for motorcyclists and drivers of smaller vehicles, arguing the concession fell short of the structural relief citizens require. The party maintains that major political groups have failed to adequately address the economic pressures faced by ordinary Pakistanis, and has asked the government for permission to hold the protest in the capital. [1]
UN Secretary-General to visit Pakistan as Islamabad's mediation role in US-Iran conflict gains recognition
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced he would visit Pakistan soon, acknowledging the country's central role as one of the key mediators in the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran. Guterres made the remarks during a press conference ahead of the UN General Assembly's high-level week, praising Pakistan and Turkiye for their mediation efforts and calling for a return to substantive dialogue to prevent further regional escalation. The UN chief's comments referenced the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, a ceasefire and negotiation framework brokered in June with Pakistani and Qatari mediation, which has since come under strain. Guterres expressed concern about the spillover effects of the conflict on Gulf states and the global economy, urging all parties to prioritize diplomacy. China's foreign minister separately urged Iran and the United States to exercise restraint and return to the Islamabad MoU framework, signaling broad international recognition of Pakistan's diplomatic contribution. The UN chief's planned visit to Islamabad is expected the following month, at the invitation of the Pakistani government, according to Pakistani media reports. [5]
Sources: [1] The Express Tribune · [5] The Express Tribune