Karachi JI strike: Six workers arrested over alleged burning of motorcycles and tyres

Six workers of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) were arrested in Karachi over allegations that they set motorcycles and tyres on fire at Korangi Crossing to obstruct traffic police said as the city witnessed widespread disruption during the party’s nationwide strike against the petroleum levy.

Six workers of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) were arrested in Karachi over allegations that they set motorcycles and tyres on fire at Korangi Crossing to obstruct traffic police said as the city witnessed widespread disruption during the party’s nationwide strike against the petroleum levy.

The arrests came as JI organised a shutter-down strike across Pakistan, with traders, petrol pump operators, private schools and lawyers in Karachi joining the protest against rising fuel prices and inflation. JI maintained that the strike was being observed peacefully while the government and police took notice of incidents that disrupted traffic.

Korangi Senior Superintendent of Police Hussain Janwari said six JI workers were arrested in connection with the incident at Korangi Crossing. According to police the suspects obtained two old motorcycles and tyres from a junk dealer and allegedly set them on fire to block the road.

Police reached the location and brought the situation under control. A first information report was subsequently registered against the six suspects under anti-terror legislation.

Videos circulating on social media appeared to show the remains of two burned motorcycles and tyres placed across the road. Traffic could be seen moving around the burning objects to pass through the area.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also took notice of the incident and directed authorities to investigate it immediately. He ordered the arrest of those involved in setting the motorcycles on fire and called for action against anyone responsible for creating a law-and-order situation.

The chief minister also sought a report from the Sindh police chief stressing that no one would be allowed to disrupt peace in Karachi.

JI, however, distanced itself from the incident and demanded the immediate release of its arrested workers. In a statement, the party alleged that “miscreants” were responsible for the burning and accused the government of using tactics aimed at suppressing its protest.

The incident added to tensions surrounding the JI-led shutdown which caused widespread closures in Karachi’s major commercial districts. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab criticised the strike saying that shutting down businesses for even one day could cause billions of rupees in losses and disproportionately affect daily-wage workers.

Wahab warned political parties against putting citizens through hardship to make political points and recalled Karachi’s history of strikes, extortion and disruption during the 1980s and 1990s.

The JI has said its nationwide campaign is aimed at forcing the government to withdraw the petroleum levy and provide relief to citizens facing rising costs. JI Karachi chief Monem Zafar Khan described the shutdown as largely peaceful and successful while acknowledging that some disruptive incidents had occurred.

The Korangi arrests are likely to intensify the political dispute over the strike with authorities emphasising the need to maintain public order while JI continues to defend its campaign against rising fuel prices and economic pressures.