KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has announced protests in Karachi on Friday, May 22, against the spiralling cost of living, in line with nationwide demonstrations called by the party’s Central Chief, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman.
The announcement was made by Acting Chief of JI Karachi and Opposition Leader in the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, Saifuddin Advocate at a press conference held at Idara Noor-e-Haq on Wednesday.
Saifuddin said demonstrations would be held across Karachi at 14 major locations, while the central protest would take place at Masjid Khizra in Saddar. He said the protests were being organised against the sharp increase in petroleum prices, the petroleum levy, and rising inflation, which he described as unjust and oppressive.
He maintained that the increase in fuel prices was not due to international market trends but was the result of what he termed anti-public government policies. He urged the government to abolish the petroleum levy and provide immediate relief to the public, warning that Jamaat-e-Islami could also consider a wheel-jam strike if its demands were ignored.
Criticizing the city administration, Saifuddin said Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab had become a “villain” for the people of Karachi. He alleged that development schemes meant for towns were being transferred to the KMC to conceal incompetence and failure. He demanded that the Sindh government release development funds to all Karachi towns without discrimination so that road and infrastructure projects could be completed.
He also demanded that during Eid-ul-Adha, the authority, resources, and machinery of the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board be handed over to towns to ensure effective cleanliness arrangements during the days of animal sacrifice.
Highlighting alleged corruption in the KMC, he claimed that tenders were being awarded to favoured individuals without being advertised in newspapers. He said that despite claims by Saeed Ghani that all towns were being treated equally, Jamaat-e-Islami-run towns were facing discrimination.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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