Road closed in Karachi after JI calls for Nationwide protest over inflated bills

Roads closed in Karachi as JI calls for a nationwide shutdown over inflated electricity bills. Traffic delays on the National Highway.

Dozens of political activists burnt tyres and closed major roads in Karachi early morning on Saturday as the city headed for a shutdown.

The Jamaat-e-Islami has called for a nationwide strike today to protest inflated electricity bills.

People have been holding demonstrations across the country for a week, demanding electricity prices to be slashed. The caretaker government, however, has refused to do so, saying any such move would be in breach of a loan agreement with the IMF.

On Saturday morning, dozens of people took to the National Highway near Quaidabad and Gulshan e Hadeed. They burnt tyres halting traffic on the busy highway. Trucks carrying goods and leaving or entering the city formed long queues.

The red Peoples Bus Service buses also did not ply on the road.

A similar situation was witnessed in other parts of the city. Protestors left burning tyres in the middle of the road in the Patel Para area.

Protesters in Orangi Town No. 5 blocked traffic as they protested against the hyperinflation in the country and worsening living conditions. Dawood Chowrangi in Landhi Town was blocked by the enraged protesters. The commuters were returning back amid blocked roads.