Karachi: Karachi on Thursday observed a complete shutter-down strike on the call of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan Ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, rejecting the 'petrol levy extortion tax' and 'oppressive and anti-people' agreements with Independent Power Producers.All major commercial centres, small and large markets, shopping malls and retail shops across the city remained closed. The Petrol Pump Association also shut fuel stations, while the All Karachi Private Schools Association announced closure of schools. Attendance at private and government offices and educational institutions remained thin as citizens supported JI's protest against expensive petrol and electricity.Lawyers from the Sindh High Court Bar Association and Karachi Bar Association boycotted courts and staged a rally to the sit-in at Governor House. JI Karachi chief Monem Zafar received SHCBA President Hasib Jamali, KBA President Aamir Nawaz Waraich and other bar leaders at the venue.Speaking at a press conference at Regal Chowk and later addressing lawyers at Governor House, Monem Zafar thanked Karachi's business community for shutting down more than 300 markets. 'Today Karachi, the country's largest city and trading hub, has given its verdict against the unjust collection of petrol levy and the burden of billions of rupees imposed on the public through costly petrol and electricity,' he said.He said JI's public struggle would continue. 'Protests will continue. Sit-ins will continue. There will also be negotiations with the government for people's rights, and if the government does not agree, the option of a long march remains open.'He condemned attempts in Landhi, Korangi, Orangi and Baldia Town to forcibly open shops under police supervision, and the arrest of peaceful JI workers in Lyari and Korangi. 'Force and arson are not our way. Jamaat-e-Islami believes in peaceful, constitutional and democratic struggle,' he added.He listed markets that remained fully closed, including Karachi Electronics, Bolton Market, Khori Garden, Katchi Ga li, Liaquatabad Grocery, Tariq Road, Bahadurabad, Gulshan-e-Iqbal markets, Maskan Chowk, Iqbal Cloth Market, Sohrab Goth, Gulshan-e-Amin, Water Pump Grain and Cycle Market, Akbar Road Motorcycle Market, Manzoor Colony Furniture Market, Urdu Bazaar, Aram Bagh Furniture Market, Saddar, Nazimabad, Regal, Malir Jinnah Market, Denso Hall, Electronics Market and Light House.He said it was 'unjust' that citizens living below the poverty line were paying Rs130 per litre in petroleum levy and other taxes. 'People are worried whether to educate their children, meet household expenses, or pay this heavy levy extortion tax to the government. We do not accept this levy. It must be abolished immediately.'SHCBA President Hasib Jamali and KBA President Aamir Waraich expressed solidarity with JI's campaign. Jamali said the issue of petrol levy concerned the entire nation, not just one party. 'We are with Jamaat-e-Islami in this struggle and salute Hafiz Naeemur Rehman for taking up the case of the people,' he said, urging rulers to address public problems and provide relief from inflation.Waraich said the legal fraternity stood with JI's public movement. 'Jamaat-e-Islami has always raised its voice for people's rights and stood with the legal community. The government will have to withdraw the petrol levy,' he said.JI Karachi deputy chief and Opposition Leader in KMC, Saifuddin Advocate, also addressed the gathering, criticising the government for its 'insensitivity' and collecting billions in the name of levy.The JI leaders said the 19-day sit-in would continue along with protests in other parts of the city. 'Not a single stone has been thrown, nor a single pane of glass broken,' Zafar said, adding that the peaceful and successful shutter-down had worried both federal and provincial governments. He thanked the entire trading community, legal fraternity, petrol pump association, private schools association and citizens of Karachi for their support.