Pakistan is watching a massive political moment unfold right now. Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), one of the country’s oldest religio-political parties, has launched what it calls the “Super Long March.” Thousands of workers, families, and supporters are moving toward Islamabad from every corner of the country. Their demand is simple: scrap the petroleum levy completely. If you’ve been following the news lately, you’ve probably seen headlines about trains packed with protestors, sealed roads in the capital, and tense talks between the government and JI leaders. This article breaks down everything happening, why it matters to you, and what could come next. What Is the Super Long March All About? The Super Long March is a nationwide protest movement led by JI chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman. It’s not a sudden decision. JI has been holding sit-ins and rallies across Pakistan for more than a month, pushing back against rising fuel prices. When talks with the government kept falling apart, the party decided it was time to bring the protest straight to the capital’s doorstep. The march isn’t happening from just one city. Caravans are converging from Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Lahore, and smaller towns in between. Some groups are traveling by train, others by road, but they all share the same destination and the same goal: forcing the government to remove the petroleum levy for good. Jamaat-e-Islami’s Super Long March Continues Towards Islamabad Over Petroleum Levy This phrase has become one of the most searched topics in Pakistan this week, and for good reason. People want real-time updates on where the march stands, whether it’s peaceful, and how the government plans to respond. As of now, the march is very much active. Caravans from Karachi already departed on the Rahman Baba Express, while groups from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa set off from the historic Bab-e-Khyber monument. Multiple convoys are expected to meet in Multan and Lahore before making their final push toward Islamabad later this week. What makes this different from past JI protests is the scale. This isn’t a single city sit-in anymore. It’s a coordinated, multi-province mobilization, and that’s exactly why it’s dominating news cycles across the country. Why the Petroleum Levy Has Sparked Nationwide Anger To understand why so many people are joining this march, you need to understand what the petroleum levy actually is. It’s a tax the government adds directly to petrol and diesel prices. Unlike other taxes, this one goes straight into federal revenue, and it’s become one of the government’s biggest income sources in recent years. The problem is timing. Fuel prices were already climbing because of global tension, including conflict involving Iran and repeated attacks linked to the Houthis near Saudi Arabia. Add a heavy government levy on top of that, and everyday people end up paying much more just to fill their tanks or run their motorcycles. How Much Are People Paying in Taxes? Right now, the government charges roughly Rs114 per liter in taxes on petrol and around Rs100 per liter on diesel. For a country where a large chunk of the population relies on motorcycles and public transport, that’s a heavy burden. Transport costs go up, food prices follow, and household budgets get squeezed from every direction. The Route: How the Long March Is Moving Across Pakistan JI didn’t just wing this protest. They released a detailed schedule weeks in advance, which shows just how organized this movement really is. Karachi to Multan by Train The Karachi caravan left from Karachi Cantt Station on the Rahman Baba Express. Supporters were welcomed at stops including Hyderabad, Tando Adam, Nawabshah, and Rohri, with a large public gathering held in Sukkur. From there, the group switched to the Shalimar Express, heading toward Multan with a planned stop in Ghotki along the way. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Joins In At the same time, another wave of protestors launched their journey from Bab-e-Khyber near Jamrud. Led by JI’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa leadership, this group is moving through northern Punjab, aiming to link up with other caravans as they close in on Islamabad. Eventually, all these separate marches are expected to merge, with the final convergence point being the capital itself, likely around September 23 or 24. Who Is Leading This Movement? Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, the current JI Emir, is the face of this entire campaign. He’s been vocal at every stop, telling crowds that this isn’t about politics or personal gain. According to him, the movement exists purely to represent ordinary citizens struggling with inflation and rising living costs. He’s also taken aim at other government policies during his speeches, including the country’s monetary policy and its agreements with independent power producers, commonly known as IPPs. Rehman has argued that a simple reduction in the interest rate could save the country as much money as the petroleum levy generates, questioning why the burden always falls on regular citizens instead. Government’s Response and Ongoing Negotiations The government hasn’t been silent through all of this. In fact, there have already been multiple rounds of talks between JI representatives and government officials. Talks That Have Failed So Far Despite several meetings, both sides have struggled to find common ground. The government’s main defense has been its commitments to the International Monetary Fund, arguing that removing the levy entirely could jeopardize the country’s financial agreements. JI hasn’t accepted that explanation, insisting that the government has other ways to cut costs without taxing fuel so heavily. A Possible One-Year Suspension? Interestingly, there are now reports suggesting the government might offer a compromise. One proposal on the table involves suspending the petroleum levy for a full year, along with a broader relief package aimed at easing public frustration. However, this offer still needs approval from JI’s internal technical committee before anything becomes official, so nothing is confirmed just yet. Breaking Down the Petroleum Levy: A Quick Snapshot Here’s a simple table to help you visualize exactly what’s being charged and why it’s causing so much frustration. Fuel Type Levy Charged Per Liter Impact on Common Buyer Petrol Rs114 Higher transport