LAHORE — Jamaat-e-Islami has declared a nationwide strike on September 3, escalating its campaign against rising petroleum prices and what it calls unbearable electricity bills. The announcement was made by party Emir Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman during a press conference in Lahore.
A Peaceful Protest, Promises Party Leadership
Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman emphasized that the strike would remain entirely peaceful. “Not even a flowerpot will be broken,” he said, seeking to reassure citizens and authorities that the protest would be conducted without violence or damage to property.
The party leader said public frustration over fuel costs and power tariffs had pushed ordinary people to the streets. “People were taking to the streets to demand lower petroleum prices,” he stated, framing the strike as a response to widespread economic distress.
Mobilizing Traders and Youth
Jamaat-e-Islami plans to engage traders across the country to persuade them to close their businesses on the day of the strike. Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman said young people already knew how to organize such actions and would play a central role in mobilization.
He appealed directly to the trading community, urging them not to listen to government “yes-men and sycophants.” He added that he would personally meet traders in Lahore to build support for the shutdown.
Electricity Bills Called a “Bomb” on the Public
The Jamaat-e-Islami leader also sharply criticized high electricity bills, describing them as a “bomb” falling on the public. He tied the demand for lower petroleum prices to broader relief from inflated utility costs, arguing that both were squeezing household budgets.
The party has not yet released a detailed schedule of strike-related activities, but the announcement signals a significant escalation in its ongoing protest movement over economic issues.
