Sindh Assembly demands Centre abolish petroleum levy

KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Tuesday unanimously adopted an opposition resolution demanding that the Centre abolish petroleum levy tax. As Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) is staging sit-ins across the country against rising prices of petroleum products, its lone lawmaker in the house, Muhammad Farooq, moved the resolution demanding the abolition of the petroleum levy tax. Responding to the resolution, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar said that the matter pertained to the federal government and the provincial government could not abolish the tax. Later, the speaker put the resolution for vote and the house unanimously adopted it, urging the federal government to end the levy tax. House unanimously adopts JI lawmaker’s resolution against rising fuel prices; MQM-P stages noisy protest against ‘Sindhudesh’ The JI member’s resolution said that at present, the actual price of petrol including customs duty was Rs238. 70, but in addition to this price, the government was charging Rs80 as petroleum levy, Rs5 as climate levy, and Rs25. 3 per litre as margin of oil marketing companies. “Through these additional levies, not only petrol and diesel have become more expensive, but inflation has also increased proportionately. This has placed 95 per cent of the people of Pakistan under the burden of inflation, which amounts to severe oppression of the public, ” it said. “Therefore, through this resolution, this House demands that the federal government immediately end the government levy and other duties and provide immediate relief to the public, ” the resolution said. Muttahida protests against ‘Sindhudesh’ Earlier, proceedings were marred as opposition lawmakers belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan staged a noisy protest against the so-called Sindhudesh, preventing Question Hour from being held during the Private Members’ Day sitting. The assembly session, chaired by Speaker Syed Awais Shah, was disrupted within minutes when MQM-P’s Deputy Parliamentary Party Leader Taha Ahmed rose to address the house on the issue of “Sindhudesh” during Question Hour. Moments later the house echoed with loud protests and sloganeering as opposition members disrupted the proceeding, forcing the speaker to intervene repeatedly. The chair asked the protesting lawmakers to take their seats and let the Question Hour continue. “The entire house is watching, the entire Sindh is watching, ” he remarked as opposition members continued their protest. The MQM-P lawmakers converged in front of the speaker’s rostrum and chanted “Sindhu Desh na manzoor, Speaker gardi na manzoor”. The ruckus began after Leader of the Opposition Ali Khurshidi of the MQM-P accused treasury members of running video clips of assembly proceedings on their social media accounts. He alleged that even ministers were involved in the practice. “We consider you impartial, ” Mr Khurshidi told the chair, referring to an earlier incident where an apology was sought from an opposition member for recording video in the house. The speaker responded: “Alright, give me the list. ” During Question Hour, Taha Ahmed kept speaking while the MQM-P members did not ask supplementary questions. Later, speaking to reporters at the Media Corner on the premises of the Sindh Assembly, Opposition Leader Khurshidi condemned what he called the “partisan attitude” of MQM-P members did not ask supplementary questions. Later, speaking to reporters at the Media Corner on the premises of the Sindh Assembly, Opposition Leader Khurshidi condemned what he called the “partisan attitude” of the speaker and the assembly secretariat. “Constitutionally, Private Members’ Day belongs to the opposition. Until now we considered the speaker to be impartial, which is why we supported him. But after being reprimanded by the chief minister, he has become biased, ” he alleged. Christian Family Law bill introduced Deputy Speaker Anthony Naveed also introduced the Christian Family Laws Bill 2026 in the house. “It has been 150 years and Christian family law has come to the assembly. I request the opposition to support it. My wish is that the bill be introduced and referred to the committee today, ” he said. The bill was referred to the relevant standing committee. Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2026

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