Pakistan, Aug. 19 -- Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Tuesday warned the government that the party could announce a countrywide strike if the recent increase in petrol and diesel prices was not withdrawn immediately.

Addressing a press conference on the third day of the JI sit-in outside the Punjab chief minister's House, Rehman said the public was already paying heavy taxes on every litre of fuel and could no longer bear the rising cost of living.

He demanded that the government reduce fuel prices, abolish the petroleum levy and bring the price of petrol down to Rs225 per litre. He also announced that women and lawyers would join the ongoing protests.

"JI is not fighting for itself. It is fighting for the rig...