KARACHI / HYDERABAD: A countrywide shutter-down strike called by Jamaat-i-Islami to show solidarity with the people of Palestine and condemn Israeli brutalities received an overwhelming response from across Sindh on Saturday.

Major cities, including the business capital of Karachi, witnessed a near-complete halt to commercial and daily activities.

The strike call saw widespread participation from traders, transporters, and the general public.

In Karachi markets, shopping centres, and business districts remained closed throughout the day.

The private transport services were largely off the roads and the usually bustling city wore a subdued look, reflecting a rare display of unity among various groups, trade bodies and civil society responding to the call.

The businesses in other Sindh cities, including Hyderabad, Badin, Sukkur, Nawabshah, Umarkot, Jamshoro, Larkana remained closed.

Jamaat leadership thanks business community for showing solidarity with people of Gaza

In Karachi, major commercial areas, including Saddar, Tariq Road, Clifton, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Bolton Market, Burns Road, and Hyderi in North Nazimabad, remained shut from early morning hours.

Traders and businessmen in Jodia Bazaar, Kharadar, and Timber Market also observed the strike with shopkeepers voluntarily keeping their shutters down.

Although there was no announcement of support from the transporters body for the strike, a few public transport vehicles and rickshaws were available on roads.

With a reduced number of vehicles on the roads due to the strike, commuters faced difficulty in reaching their offices and workplaces.

However, after remaining completely closed during the regular business hours, the shops and stores were reopened in residential areas in the evening.

The Jamaat-i-Islami thanked the city’s business community and described the response as a reflection of true sentiments of Karachiites in support of people of Gaza.

The party’s Karachi chief, Monem Zafar, along with other leaders and representatives of the traders’ fraternity in Karachi, held a press conference in Saddar at a market.

The JI leader said that the countrywide strike was an eye-opener for those who are at the helm of affairs.

He said that from Karachi to Chitral, the strike had made it clear that the nation stands with the people of Gaza and Palestine, and demand that the leaders take immediate steps to stop the ongoing genocide in Gaza by the Zionist state.

“All the big and small markets, wholesale markets, fruits and vegetables markets, fuel pumps, and even courts are closed in solidarity with Gaza against Israel and the United States,” he said adding that Israel committed the worst kind of crimes against humanity in Gaza, whereas the United States was helping Israel.

He also criticised Muslim counties over their inability to act decisively.

On the occasion, the JI leader also condemned the Indian terrorism in the aftermath of a false-flag operation in the occupied Kashmir.

He said that the Modi government had unmasked its own face by suspending the 1960’s Indus Waters Treaty by taking hostile measures.

He also highlighted the issue of Kashmir and human rights violations on the part of Indian forces.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2025