Karachi paralysed by road blockades as MWM protests continue for third day
Religious-political party holds protests in port city against dire situation in Parachinar of Kurram district
- Central protest staged at Numaish Chowrangi, say traffic police.
- Traffic on blocked roads being diverted through alternative routes.
- Sindh governor dispatches helicopter carrying relief goods to Kurram.
KARACHI: Protest sit-ins by a religious-political party in Karachi entered third-day on Saturday causing significant traffic disruptions and inconvenience for commuters due to the closure of major roads.
The demonstrations continued at over ten locations in the city for the third consecutive day, as Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen’s (MWM) staged sit-ins against the worsening crisis in Parachinar, Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Providing an update on the traffic situation, Karachi Traffic Police reported that the central protest is being staged at Numaish Chowrangi. Other arteries facing closures include both tracks of Abul Hasan Isphani Road in front of Abbas Town and University Road near Samama Shopping Centre.
Meanwhile, a sit-in was staged at Five Star Chowrangi in North Nazimabad as well.
Meanwhile, Sharea Faisal from Malir to Natha Khan Bridge was closed, however, the traffic was restored on the city-bound side starting from the bridge. Protesters also blocked the double track near Malir 15 bridge.
Additionally, sit-ins were also reported from Surjani Town Road, Shahra-e-Pakistan near Ancholi, Kamran Chowrangi in Gulistan-e-Johar, and Nazimabad No 1, resulting in suspension of vehicular traffic.
The National Highway near Township was completely shut, and a demonstration at Powerhouse Chowrangi further compounded the city’s traffic woes.
Traffic police have been redirecting vehicles to alternative routes to mitigate congestion.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah appealed to the demonstrators to avoid causing hardship for the public, saying: “Blocking roads in Karachi and Sukkur will not resolve the Parachinar issue.”
The protests stem from the deteriorating security situation in Parachinar, where clashes have resulted in over 130 fatalities since November, the point of recent escalation of conflict between two tribal groups.
Reports also suggest over 100 children have died due to a medicine shortage, although KP government spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif has denied these claims.
Parachinar, located in Kurram, is a tribal district near the Afghan border with a population of around 600,000. It has long been a hotspot for conflict.
Recent clashes have triggered a humanitarian crisis, with shortages of medicine and oxygen exacerbated by the closure of the highway connecting Parachinar to Peshawar.
In a relief effort, the Sindh governor’s office announced that a helicopter carrying medical supplies and other aid had reached Parachinar. These provisions were sent on the Sindh governor’s directive to address the growing crisis.
