Karachi observes JI’s shutter-down strike

KARACHI: Karachi observed a complete shutter-down strike on Thursday against the petroleum levy and what the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) termed “anti-people” agreements with independent power producers (IPPs). More than 300 small and large markets, commercial centres and shopping malls remained closed across the city, while petrol pumps also shut following the petrol pump association’s support. The All Karachi Private Schools Association announced the closure of schools. Public and private educational institutions and offices recorded low attendance, while public transport remained reduced. Citizens also supported the protest against high petrol and electricity prices. Lawyers from the Sindh High Court Bar Association and Karachi Bar Association boycotted courts and reached the Governor House in a rally to express solidarity with the JI sit-in. JI Karachi chief Monem Zafar Khan received Sindh High Court Bar President Haseeb Jamali, Karachi Bar President Amir Nawaz Waraich, General Secretary Arshad Shar, other office-bearers, Islamic Lawyers Movement President Farrukh Usman and women lawyers from the Women Lawyers Forum. Addressing a press conference at Regal Chowk and later speaking to lawyers outside the Governor House, Monem Zafar thanked Karachi’s traders, lawyers, petrol pump association, private schools association and citizens for supporting the protest. He said the shutdown had sent a clear message that Karachi, the country’s largest city and commercial hub, rejected the petroleum levy and IPP agreements that, he claimed, had imposed billions of rupees in additional costs on consumers through expensive petrol and electricity. “The government will have to withdraw the petroleum levy and reduce petrol and electricity prices, ” he said, adding that JI’s public campaign would continue through protests and sit-ins. He said negotiations with the government would also continue, but if the government failed to accept the public demands, “the option of a long march remains open. ” Monem condemned attempts to reopen closed shops in Landhi, Korangi, Orangi and Baldia Town, allegedly with police support, and the arrest of peaceful JI workers in Lyari and Korangi. “Force, violence and arson are not our way. JI believes in peaceful, constitutional and democratic struggle, ” he said that the JI sit-in had continued for 19 days and protests were being held in other parts of the city. He claimed that no stone had been thrown and no glass had been broken during the campaign, adding that the strong response to the strike showed broad support among traders. He criticised Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon’s statements and warned the police and administration against becoming “more loyal than the king”. Monem said JI had a list of hundreds of markets that remained closed, including Karachi Electronics, Bolton Market, Khori Garden, Kachi Gali, Liaquatabad Kirana Market, Tariq Road, Bahadurabad, markets in Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Maskan Chowrangi, Iqbal Cloth Market, Sohrab Goth, Gulshan Amin, Water Pump Grain and Bicycle Market, Akbar Road Motorcycle Market, Manzoor Colony Furniture Market, Urdu Bazaar, Arambagh Furniture Market, Saddar, Nazimabad, Regal, Malir Jinnah Market, Denso Hall Electronics Market and Light House. He said it was unjust that people in a country where millions lived below the poverty line were paying Rs130 in petroleum levy on every litre of petrol, in addition to other taxes, while government spending remained high. “People are worried whether they should educate their children, meet household expenses or pay this huge levy, ” he said, demanding its immediate withdrawal. He said people across the country wanted the government to cut its expenditure, reduce electricity and petroleum prices and control inflation. He also called for action against IPPs and K-Electric, saying Karachi residents were facing up to 14 hours of load-shedding while businesses and industries were suffering and unemployment was rising. JI Karachi vice chief and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation opposition leader Saifuddin Advocate, addressing the lawyers, said the rulers were insensitive to public hardships and were collecting billions of rupees through the levy. He praised Haseeb Jamali, Amir Waraich and other lawyers for supporting JI’s position, boycotting courts and joining the sit-in. Haseeb Jamali said JI was struggling for legitimate public demands and rights, adding that the petroleum levy was not merely a JI issue but a concern of the entire nation. “We stand with JI in this struggle and salute Hafiz Naeemur Rehman for raising the people’s case, ” he said, urging the government to understand public problems and provide relief from inflation. Jamali said lawyers had visited the Governor House a day earlier in solidarity and had again boycotted courts on Thursday before joining the rally. Amir Nawaz Waraich also reaffirmed the lawyers’ support for JI’s campaign, saying the party had consistently raised its voice for public rights and stood with the legal community. “We are also with JI in its public struggle. The government will have to withdraw the petroleum levy, ” he said. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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