Karachi partially shuts down on JI’s strike call

KARACHI: A shutter-down strike called by Jamaat-e-Islami on Saturday against Israeli aggression in Gaza and Indian actions in Kashmir brought routine life to a halt in Karachi. Major wholesale and retail markets across the city remained closed.

Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Ameer, Munim Zafar Khan, reiterated the party’s call for a nationwide shutter-down strike on April 26—from Karachi to Chitral—to protest ongoing Israeli atrocities in Gaza. He said the move aimed to awaken global conscience and express solidarity with Palestinians.

Key commercial areas, including Saddar Electronic Market, Tibet Centre, Empress Market, and various mobile markets, were completely closed. Business hubs along I.I. Chundrigar Road and M.A. Jinnah Road also shut down.

With public transport largely off the roads, citizens faced difficulties commuting. Offices, schools, and other institutions also witnessed low attendance.

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Jamaat-e-Islami linked the protest not only to Gaza but also to alleged human rights violations by India in occupied Kashmir.

However, the All City Traders Alliance distanced itself from the strike. Addressing a press conference, alliance leader Sharjeel Goplani said the business community had already observed a protest on April 7 and was not part of the April 26 strike.

“Our timber market will remain open, and all business activities will continue as usual,” Goplani said, adding that the business community was already under economic stress and could not afford further closures. He urged traders to avoid politically motivated shutdowns.

NO PUBLIC HOLIDAY TODAY

Confusion over an alleged public holiday on April 26 was cleared by the Karachi Commissioner’s office, which dismissed a fake notification circulating on social media.

The forged document claimed the day had been declared a public holiday in protest against Israeli aggression. Officials clarified that the Commissioner’s office had issued no such notice and urged the public to ignore misinformation.