RAWALPINDI: A nationwide shutter-down strike is being observed across Pakistan on Saturday, following a call from Jamaat-e-Islami and various traders’ associations to express solidarity with the Palestinian people and protest against Israeli actions in Gaza.
Shops and markets have remained closed in major cities, including Karachi, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Charsadda, and Peshawar. Business activities have come to a halt, and traffic on the roads is significantly lighter than usual. Additionally, lawyers have joined the strike, boycotting court proceedings in protest.
Protest rallies are being held in various areas as part of the demonstration of support for the people of Gaza. Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman condemned the ongoing violence, stating that the Pakistani nation cannot stand by while Palestinians face genocide.
In a related statement, All Pakistan Traders Association President Ajmal Baloch announced that traders would hold a protest at Abpara Chowk in Islamabad at 5 PM. Baloch also called for the resignation of the UN Secretary-General due to his failure to effectively address the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
As of today, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that nearly 2,000 people have been killed and over 5,200 injured since Israel broke its ceasefire with Hamas on March 18, 2025. The overall death toll in Gaza has surpassed 51,300 since the conflict began 18 months ago, with more than 117,000 wounded. Gaza’s Government Media Office has updated the toll to over 61,700, with thousands still presumed dead under the rubble.
The war, which began in response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, has devastated Gaza’s health system. Many hospitals are out of operation, medical staff have been killed, and crucial supplies have been severely limited. Despite efforts by Arab mediators from Qatar and Egypt, with backing from the United States, peace efforts have so far failed to bring about a resolution.
