Jamaat-e-Islami Calls for Nationwide Strike in Pakistan on August 28
Islamabad, Pakistan – Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Naib, Emir Liaqat Baloch, announced that the religio-political party would hold a shutter-down strike across the country on August 28. This strike aims to pressure the government to provide relief to the masses, according to Geo News.
Baloch, during a press conference in Islamabad, stated that the trader community had unanimously decided to observe a nationwide strike against inflation, high electricity prices, and hefty taxes. He warned that any attempt by the government to stop the strike would push the country into anarchy.
Baloch reminded that his party had staged a 14-day protest in Rawalpindi and held negotiations with the federal government. The ministers had signed an agreement after accepting the JI’s demands for providing relief to the inflation-hit nation earlier this month. A one-month deadline was set to review the contracts with independent power producers (IPPs) in the agreement.
Baloch demanded that the Pakistan government implement the agreement and hinted at starting a long march to Islamabad if needed. He added that his party had just postponed the sit-in after signing an agreement with the government but would continue their struggle to get relief for the nation.
Before announcing the strike, JI Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman had announced another protest two weeks ago, stating that his party would call for a peaceful protest by joining hands with trader groups. The announcement of protests came after the party postponed its 14-day long sit-in on August 9 following successful negotiations with the government over demands, including slashing high power tariffs and reviewing agreements with the IPPs.
Doubts Revealed
Jamaat-e-Islami -: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) is a political and religious party in Pakistan. They work to promote Islamic values and have a significant influence in the country.
Nationwide Strike -: A nationwide strike means that people all over the country stop working to protest against something. In this case, they are protesting against high prices and taxes.
Naib Emir -: Naib Emir is a title for a deputy leader in Jamaat-e-Islami. Liaqat Baloch is the person holding this position.
Shutter-down strike -: A shutter-down strike means that shops and businesses close their shutters (doors) to show they are not working as a form of protest.
Inflation -: Inflation is when the prices of things go up, making it more expensive to buy everyday items like food and clothes.
Independent power producers -: Independent power producers are companies that generate electricity and sell it to the government or directly to consumers. They are not owned by the government.
Trader community -: The trader community includes people who own and run shops and businesses. They are supporting the strike to show they also want lower prices and taxes.
