The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) announced plans to orchestrate widespread protests across Karachi on Tuesday, opposing the steep hike in fuel prices and escalating inflation, which they attribute to the policies of the current interim government, perceived as an extension of the previous Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government.
At a press conference held at the party’s central office, Idara Noor-i-Haq, Karachi chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman delineated the protest plans, urging locals to actively participate in JI’s campaign to hold past and present governments accountable. He rallied the citizens to block major city roads on Tuesday as a protest, emphasizing that the young population will play a crucial role by halting traffic at 15 key locations in the evening.
Rehman criticized the caretaker administration for raising petroleum and electricity prices thrice within a month, particularly given the depreciating value of the US dollar, describing the move as irrational. He criticized the affluent ruling class, accusing them of pushing citizens to limit their patience and warning of potentially dire consequences if the government persists in this trajectory. Following the conference, Rehman led a group of JI activists in a sit-in on Sharea Faisal.
