Several areas of the old city plunged into darkness on Wednesday as shopkeepers and households switched off lights in establishments and homes in response to a protest call given by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB).
The novel protest was called by the Tahaffuz-e-Auqaf committee of the AIMPLB, which has been at the forefront of protests against the recent Waqf Amendment Act 2025.
Earlier this month, the amendment was cleared by both houses of Parliament to reform archaic Waqf laws. Muslims, however, view the move as an effort to control community properties, which include mosques, shrines and graveyards.
Several areas remained engulfed by the dark as the effect of the protest was total in areas like Budhwara, Kaziq Camp, Shahjehanabad, Nadeem Road and several other neighbourhoods.
Video footage of darkened neighbourhoods was shared by people on social media sites within minutes of the start of the protest at 9 pm.
State coordinator of the Tahaffuz-e-Auqaf committee and local MLA Arif Masood was instrumental in the success of the 'blackout' protest, which residents said was symbolic of the darkness into which the community is being pushed.