Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman has confirmed he will announce the date for a nationwide strike on 13 Rabi-ul-Awwal. The announcement comes as the party scales up its pressure on the federal government over soaring electricity bills and the recent fuel price hikes.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Naeem signaled that the party’s patience with the current economic policies has reached its limit. He framed the upcoming strike as a “final warning” to the administration, aiming to mobilize a public already strained by inflation.
The decision to pick the 13th of Rabi-ul-Awwal carries symbolic weight. By aligning the announcement with a date of religious significance, Naeem is looking to capture the attention of his base while framing the protest as a moral imperative against what he calls an “anti-people” budget.
The government, however, shows little sign of retreat. Finance Ministry officials have maintained that the recent adjustments are mandatory to meet International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditions. They argue that the fiscal space for subsidies no longer exists, leaving the state with few options but to pass costs onto the consumer.
Naeem dismissed these justifications as “excuses” for mismanagement. He pointed to the luxury spending of the ruling elite, arguing that the burden of economic stabilization is being placed entirely on the middle and lower classes. He told reporters that his party is done with empty negotiations and is now preparing for a mass movement.
The success of the planned strike remains a variable. Similar calls in recent months have seen varying degrees of support, often hampered by security crackdowns and the logistical challenges of organizing across provincial lines. Yet, the JI has deep grassroots roots, and if Naeem can successfully bridge the gap between his party’s supporters and the broader frustrated public, the administration could face its most significant street-level challenge this year.
Naeem’s strategy is clear: keep the heat on the government until they either backtrack on energy costs or face a complete standstill of economic activity. The clock is now ticking toward the 13th, and the political temperature in the capital is rising accordingly.
