Nationwide protests organized by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) disrupted traffic across several major Pakistani cities on Friday, with demonstrators blocking highways in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Karachi.
The unrest, driven by public anger over soaring fuel prices and persistent inflation, has escalated tensions between civil society and the government's economic management strategy.
The demonstrations have placed the government’s daily fuel pricing mechanism under severe strain.
Business and industrial leaders are increasingly calling for an immediate policy review, arguing that the current approach is exacerbating cost pressures on the real economy.
Liaquat Baloch, a prominent political figure, joined the anti-price hike march in Islamabad, signaling broadening political opposition to the status quo.
These protests represent a continuation of the social friction caused by energy cost volatility.