Islamabad: Major markets and commercial centres remained closed across Pakistan on Thursday as Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) observed a nationwide shutter-down strike against the petroleum levy, controversial IPP agreements and rising inflation.
The strike, called by JI Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, was observed from Peshawar to Karachi, with traders' organisations expressing solidarity with the party's campaign. Demonstrations, motorcycle rallies and press conferences were also held in several cities as JI sit-ins entered their 19th day. JI leaders visited markets alongside traders and thanked business communities and citizens for supporting the strike.
In Lahore, major markets remained closed, while police harassed and arrested some of its workers. JI activists and leaders were also arrested in Karachi and Larkana and demanded their immediate release.
In Islamabad, commercial centres in Super Market, Aabpara, G-8 and G-9 remained closed. JI Islamabad Emir Nasrullah Randhawa, Rawalpindi Emir Syed Arif Shirazi and traders' organisation president Kashif Chaudhry visited various markets and thanked traders for observing the strike.
Major markets were also closed in Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Jhang, Sargodha, Toba Tek Singh, Okara, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Vehari, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan and Sadiqabad.
In Peshawar, JI leaders led a protest rally and thanked traders for closing businesses in major commercial areas including Khyber Bazaar, Qissa Khwani Bazaar and Ashraf Road. Markets in Charsadda, Bara Bazaar, Swabi and several parts of Hazara division, including Abbottabad, Mansehra, Haripur and Battagram, also remained closed.
In Balochistan, major markets in Quetta, including those around Airport Road, observed the strike. Similar reports came from Gwadar, Jaffarabad, Usta Muhammad and Zhob.
Across Sindh, markets in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas, Jacobabad, Ghotki, Shikarpur, Thatta, Tharparkar, Nawabshah, Badin, Hala and other areas remained closed. JI Youth organised motorcycle rallies in several cities.
JI leaders said that police attempted to force some shopkeepers to reopen their businesses and condemned the move. They thanked traders, business associations and citizens for what they described as a successful and peaceful shutdown.
The nationwide strike came as JI continued its protests demanding withdrawal of the petroleum levy, relief in electricity prices and an end to unjust IPP agreements and excessive taxation.