Karachi Traders, Lawyers Join JI Strike Against Petrol Levy and Power Costs

Traders, lawyers, private institutions and other sections of Karachi observed a strike on the call of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) against the petrol levy and what the party describes as oppressive agreements with independent power producers.

Major commercial centres, markets and retail shops remained closed in several parts of the city. Petrol stations also shut their operations after the Petrol Pump Association supported the strike.

The All Karachi Private Schools Association announced the closure of private schools. Attendance also remained low at several government and private offices and educational institutions.

Lawyers Join Protest at Governor House

Members of the Sindh High Court Bar Association and Karachi Bar Association partially boycotted court proceedings.

Lawyers also held a rally and joined the JI sit-in at Governor House.

Karachi JI chief Monem Zafar received SHCBA President Hasib Jamali, KBA President Aamir Nawaz Waraich and other bar leaders at the protest venue.

Addressing a press conference at Regal Chowk, Zafar thanked Karachi’s business community for supporting the strike.

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He said more than 300 markets had closed in response to the call. According to Zafar, Karachi had sent a clear message against the petrol levy and rising electricity costs.

JI Says Public Struggle Will Continue

Zafar said the JI would continue its campaign for relief from rising costs.

He said protests and sit-ins would continue alongside negotiations with the government. If talks failed, he said, the party could consider a long march.

The JI leader also criticised attempts to force shops open in Landhi, Korangi, Orangi and Baldia Town.

He alleged that police supervised efforts to reopen businesses in some areas. Zafar also condemned the arrests of peaceful JI workers in Lyari and Korangi.

“Force and arson are not our way,” he said, adding that the JI believed in peaceful, constitutional and democratic struggle.

Major Markets Remain Closed

Several major commercial areas observed the strike, according to Zafar.

These included Karachi Electronics Market, Boulton Market, Khori Garden, Katchi Gali and Liaquatabad.

Businesses also remained closed along Tariq Road, Bahadurabad and in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. Other affected areas included Maskan Chowk, Iqbal Cloth Market, Sohrab Goth and Gulshan-e-Amin.

Water Pump Grain and Cycle Market, Akbar Road Motorcycle Market and Manzoor Colony Furniture Market also observed the strike.

Urdu Bazaar, Arambagh Furniture Market, Saddar, Nazimabad, Regal, Malir Jinnah Market, Denso Hall and Lighthouse were among the other commercial areas named by the JI.

JI Demands Withdrawal of Petrol Levy

Zafar criticised the financial burden placed on consumers through the petrol levy and other taxes.

He said people were struggling to manage household expenses, education costs and rising prices.

According to Zafar, citizens should not have to bear what he called an excessive levy on petroleum products.

The JI leader demanded the immediate abolition of the petrol levy.

He also thanked traders, lawyers, petrol station owners, private schools and citizens for supporting the strike.

Legal Fraternity Backs JI Campaign

SHCBA President Hasib Jamali expressed solidarity with the JI’s campaign.

Jamali said the petrol levy was a national issue rather than a matter concerning a single political party.

He said the legal fraternity stood with the JI in its campaign and praised JI leader Hafiz Naeemur Rehman for raising the issue of public relief.

Jamali urged the government to address people’s concerns and provide relief from inflation.

KBA President Aamir Nawaz Waraich also backed the movement.

He said the legal community supported the JI’s campaign for public rights. Waraich added that the government would have to withdraw the petrol levy.

The strike highlighted growing concerns among traders, professionals and citizens over fuel prices, electricity costs and the broader cost of living in Karachi.