No more strikes

No more strikes

Monday, January 04, 2010

I can understand unscrupulous politicians inciting the public to strike and commit arson, but it is indeed strange that some religious leaders gave a call for strike on Friday. Don’t they realise how much suffering the citizens have undergone recently? Do they think going on a strike is in accordance with Islam? They should at least think of those unfortunate souls who may suffer heart attacks or need urgent medical treatment but cannot go to hospitals so they either die or their condition deteriorates. Daily wage-earners (who often don’t have enough money to buy food for the day) would go hungry along with their wives and children. The government also incurred a financial loss of billions, as it did recently during the Ashura carnage and mayhem in Karachi.

Exporters are badly affected by strikes as some of them are unable to ship their goods on time, either having to postpone shipments (if buyers agree) or selling such goods at scrap value. Our religious scholars have issued fatwas on practically every issue under the sun, so why don’t they declare that giving strike calls is ‘haram’?

Shakir Lakhani
Karachi
The News, January 04, 2010