Karachi Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Amir – Monem Zafar has announced a complete strike across Karachi on September 3 to protest rising inflation, what he termed excessive taxation, and the government’s failure to address growing economic hardships.
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Monem Zafar made the announcement while addressing a press conference, saying the strike would highlight the financial pressures facing working-class families and the general public.
The JI emir said ordinary citizens were being crushed under the burden of inflation, while additional financial pressure was being imposed through taxes and the petroleum levy.
He claimed that consumers were currently paying Rs. 130 in taxes and levies on every litre of petrol, contributing to higher prices of food and other essential commodities.
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Monem Zafar said low-income salaried workers were facing serious financial difficulties and questioned how a household could manage its expenses on a monthly income of Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 45,000.
He said ordinary citizens were struggling to afford basic necessities while those in positions of power continued to enjoy lavish lifestyles and billions of rupees from the national treasury were allegedly being wasted.
The JI leader also criticised the government over the condition of the healthcare sector, referring to the recent PIMS Hospital fire in Islamabad, in which 14 newborn babies reportedly died.
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He said similar incidents had occurred at hospitals in the past and argued that the latest tragedy highlighted serious shortcomings in hospital safety arrangements.
Monem Zafar said the government needed to address the problems faced by ordinary citizens instead of adding to their financial burden through higher taxes and levies.
The JI has called on Karachi residents to participate in the September 3 strike as a protest against inflation, taxation and what the party described as government incompetence.
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Earlier, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) is set to stage nationwide protests against the continued increase in petroleum product prices and the petroleum levy.
Sit-ins are being held in provincial capitals, including Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta, as the party calls for relief from rising fuel costs.
In Karachi, roads leading to the Sindh Chief Minister’s House have been closed to general traffic for security reasons, with containers placed at Metropole, PIDC and other key routes.
