JI Information Secretary Shakeel Ahmed Turabi said there was no reason for such a meeting to be kept secret, stressing that the party conducts its political activities and negotiations openly and within the Constitution and law.
Turabi said JI has been campaigning against the petroleum levy for the past two months, with roads blocked at 510 locations and sit-ins held at more than 40 locations for five weeks.
He said the party later launched a super long march from Karachi to Islamabad, which was temporarily suspended at the request of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Turabi added that JI expects the prime minister to honour his commitment and announce a substantial relief package.
Earlier, government sources had claimed that a meeting between Shehbaz Sharif and Hafiz Naeem had taken place and that the government had sought more time to address JI’s demand to abolish the petroleum levy.
Sources said the government requested time until the situation surrounding the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march was resolved and assured the JI leadership that progress would be made on its demands.
However, JI has now denied that the reported meeting took place.
The party is expected to announce its next course of action on October 7 during its Gaza March.
