Karachi traders’ convention supports JI call for April 26 shutter-down strike

A Karachi Traders Convention, representing traders’ bodies across the mega city, announced on Tuesday unconditional support for the April 26 strike called by the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) to express solidarity with Gaza and rage against states playing the role of silent spectators.

The convention was held at Idara Noor-e-Haq — the JI Karachi headquarters. Chairing the convention and addressing a press conference along with trader leaders, Karachi JI emir Monem Zafar thanked the business fraternity for their overwhelming response to the strike call. He said a humanitarian crisis was unfolding in Gaza because of the United States- sponsored Israeli genocide.

The comparatively bigger tragedy was the failure of the global community in general and the Muslim bloc in particular — apart from a very few exceptions — to take any effective step against Israel, he said.

Zafar said the people of conscience across the globe have been experiencing agony over the situation in Gaza. He said that against this backdrop, the JI has called for a countrywide strike — to be observed on April 26 from Karachi to Chitral. He added that the JI leadership had been in touch with Hamas and leadership of other countries in order to convert the strike into a global protest.

He further said that Palestine was the Qibla-e-Awal and the duly known as the land of prophets. It can’t happen that Gaza is bulldozed and the Muslim world does nothing, he said. With the help of their patience and steadfastness, the people of Gaza have not only sent shockwaves across the people of conscience but also delivered a message to army chiefs across the Muslim bloc of the world that the Muslim armies were playing dead despite all the might, he asserted.

The JI leader said the tragedy in Gaza had unmasked the nefarious face of the Western governments and the hollowness of the United Nations. “Where are the decisions of the International Court? Where is the OIC? Where is the Arab League and other forums?” he asked.

Earlier in the meeting, the participants agreed to continue boycott of Israeli products. Representatives of Clifton markets announced that they would donate their one-day income for the cause of Palestine.

The Jamaat city chief commended the people of Gaza for their exemplary bravery in the face of incessant atrocities being committed by Israel. He remarked that the people of Gaza had proved their nerves and their steadfastness for their rights.