ISLAMABAD: A shutter-down strike is being observed across Pakistan against the rising cost of electricity and heavy taxes in the country.
The call to observe the strike has been given by Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman and joined by traders who are angry about the rising taxes as well. In response, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam also announced to join the strike.
Speaking at a press conference along with other leaders of the party in Peshawar a few days ago, the Jamaat chief had called upon traders, transporters and other sections of society to join the strike and force the government to provide relief to the consumers by withdrawing the agreements signed with independent power producers.
A few weeks ago, the JI had held a protest sit-in at Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi for over two weeks. That protest was ended after the JI chief announced that he had entered into an agreement with the government under which the government would give relief to the masses within a month.
However, after the end of the protest the government did not take any steps to fullfil its promise and as result the JI announced to observe the shutter-down strike on August 28.
According to media reports, all shops and markets are closed in response to the shutter-down strike in different parts of the country. Shops and markets remain closed in major cities like Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar and small towns as well. In Peshawar and other areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa all markets and shops are closed. The traders demanded that the government should reduce power tariffs and given relief to them on taxes.
On the other hand, a delegation of traders held talks with the chairman of Federal Board of Revenue in Karachi yesterday but they failed to get any relief from the government department regarding changes to the new taxation regime. A a result, the traders and businessmen decided to join the strike.
Meanwhile, police have blocked all roads leading to the Red Zone in Islamabad. Road blockades have been put on different other roads in the capital. In Lahore,
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