A nationwide closer strike was closed over Pakistan on Saturday to express solidarity with the people of Palestine, where businesses and commercial activities stopped completely. The strike, called by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and various trade organizations, aimed to send a strong message to Israeli oppression of the Palestinian people.
According to Express News, from Karachi to Peshawar, the strike was widely observed, with the markets closed, streets almost devoid of traffic and daily life that stood still. The strike served as a sharp reminder of the ongoing Israeli military actions in Gaza, with Pakistanis from all walks of life expressing their support to Palestinians and condemning the violence.
In Karachi, the city’s central and smaller markets were shut down. Protesters walked the streets in some areas and sang slogans to support Palestinians and against Israel. Traffic police in different cities adjusted routes to control the situation caused by protests and competitions.
A worker talking on his cellphone sits outside the closed stores to show their solidarity with Palestinians, in Karachi on April 26, 2025, in the middle of the ongoing Gaza conflict. Photo: AFP
Hafiz Naeem-Ur-Rehman, Emir of Jamaat-E-Islami, noted that the population of Pakistan would never accept Israeli brutality and the support it receives from the United States. He emphasized that the strike was not only a demonstration of love for the Palestinians, but also a call to raise the oppressed votes.
“Today there is a strike throughout Karachi,” said Monem Zafar Khan, Ji Karachi chief. He emphasized that the strike received support not only from Karachi’s business community, but also from professionals, students and civil society groups. “It’s a shutter strike. Everyone from business to the scholars and civil society in Karachi is in solidarity.”
In Peshawar, historic markets such as Qissa Khawani, Chowk Yadgar and Ashraf Road were completely closed, with large malls and shopping malls that also participated in the trigger. Similarly, in Murree’s Hill areas, a complete strike was observed with Mall Road, Cantt Market and the surrounding areas that were completely deserted.
The strike also affected Rawalpindi, where key areas such as Raja Bazaar, Murree Road and Saddar were left eerily quiet. In addition, the medical and pharmaceutical community joined the protest, where the Druggist and Chemistry Association participated in the strike, causing many medical stores to remain closed in solidarity with the Palestinians.
A worker pushing a hand carriage goes through a deserted street under a nationwide strike to show their solidarity with Palestinians, in Karachi on April 26, 2025, in the middle of the ongoing Gaza conflict. Photo: AFP
In the southwestern province of Balochistan, business activities were fully suspended in cities such as Quetta, Mastung, Khuzdar, Kalat and Pishin. Similarly, the residents of the cities of cities in Punjab participated in the strike and sent a clear message of solidarity with the Palestinian case.
Usman Sharif, a representative of the All-Pakistan Cottage Industry Association in Karachi, added that Pakistani dealers were eager to contribute to the Palestinian case, whether through financial support, participation in strikes or solidarity rally.
“Every trader wants to contribute somehow,” Sharif said. “This strike is happening across the country, and here in Karachi people are fully participating.”
