Jamaat-e-Islami Leads Nationwide Strike Over Petroleum Levy

The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) launched a nationwide shutter-down strike on September 3, 2026, to protest the petroleum levy and rising costs of fuel, electricity, and gas. The strike saw significant impact in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where hundreds of markets closed in cities like Karachi and Peshawar. In Karachi, over 300 markets shut down, and the Orange Line BRT service was suspended. However, the response was mixed in Punjab and Balochistan, where many businesses remained open.

Protests turned volatile in several locations. In Karachi, unidentified individuals blocked roads and set tires and motorcycles on fire near Korangi Crossing. In Lahore, JI workers engaged in physical altercations with traders on Mall Road and held a motorcycle rally that resulted in several police detentions.

Amidst the unrest, the government and JI agreed to form committees to negotiate public relief. Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah stated the government is open to implementing workable proposals to reduce the petroleum levy. JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman appointed Liaquat Baloch to lead the negotiating team but maintained that sit-ins, which began on August 16 in provincial capitals, will continue alongside the talks.