Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Naib Emir, Liaqat Baloch, announced on Monday that the party would hold a nationwide shutter-down strike on August 28 to pressure the coalition government into providing relief to the public.
During a press conference in Islamabad, Baloch revealed that the trader community had collectively decided to observe a nationwide strike in response to rising inflation, exorbitant electricity prices, and heavy taxation.
He cautioned that any government attempt to prevent the strike could lead to widespread unrest.
Baloch reminded the public that his party had previously staged a 14-day protest in Rawalpindi and had engaged in negotiations with the federal government. These negotiations culminated in an agreement, signed by government ministers, to address JI’s demands for relief for the inflation-stricken population earlier this month.
The agreement included a one-month deadline for reviewing contracts with independent power producers (IPPs), which Baloch insisted the government must honor.
He also suggested the possibility of a long march to Islamabad if necessary, noting that while the party had postponed its sit-in after signing the agreement, their efforts to secure relief for the public would continue.
This strike call follows JI Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman’s earlier announcement of another protest two weeks ago, in which he declared the party’s intention to peacefully protest in collaboration with trader groups.
The protests were announced after JI ended its 14-day sit-in on August 9, following successful negotiations with the government on demands, including reducing high electricity tariffs and reviewing agreements with IPPs. These agreements have been scrutinized as consumers face large bills, attributed to capacity payments made to these independent power producers.
