Lahore : Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) nationwide shutter-down strike against the petroleum levy, rising fuel prices and inflation received a mixed response on Thursday, with businesses closing in several cities while commercial activity continued in others.
In Karachi, many shops remained closed in areas including Federal B Area, Water Pump, Liaquatabad and Teen Hatti. JI Karachi chief Munim Zafar claimed that more than 300 small and large markets had shut in response to the strike.
In Lahore, tensions were reported on Mall Road, where JI workers and members of the business community reportedly exchanged heated words and engaged in a scuffle.
Meanwhile, commercial activity continued in Rawalpindi and the cantonment areas, with markets including Raja Bazaar, Murree Road, Commercial Market and Tench Bhatta remaining open.
A shutter-down strike was also reported in several parts of Sindh, including Badin, Shikarpur, Tando Muhammad Khan, Makli, Gharo and Mirpur Sakro. In Malakand, major and small markets in Batkhela, Dargai, Sakakot and Thana Baizai were closed, while markets in Charsadda observed a partial shutdown.
JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said the party would announce its next course of action following the strike. He said a government committee was expected to meet the JI leadership at Mansoora in Lahore for talks.
Naeemur Rehman has previously said the party would continue its sit-ins until its demands are accepted and could consult opposition parties over a possible long march if the government fails to resolve the issue.
The protests come amid growing public concern over fuel prices, inflation and rising electricity bills, putting additional pressure on the government to provide relief to consumers.
Jamaat-e-Islami, JI Strike, Pakistan Strike, Petroleum Levy, Fuel Prices, Inflation, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Pakistan Politics, Shutter Down Strike
