Road closures persist across Karachi on day nine of MWM protests
Sindh govt spokesperson says FIRs would be lodged against those involved in attacking police
- Protests being held at seven locations across city by MWM, ASWJ.
- Numaish Chowrangi is completely closed, says traffic police.
- Abbas Town to Abul Hasan Isphahani Road route is also closed.
KARACHI: Residents of the port city continue to reel under traffic chaos caused by road closures as Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) sit-ins against the Parachinar crisis have entered the ninth day in several areas of the metropolis on Wednesday.
Currently, sit-ins are being held at seven locations with MWM protesters and Sunnat wal Jamaat (ASWJ) workers — whose protests commenced on Tuesday — demonstrating at various points across the city.
According to the traffic police, Numaish Chowrangi is completely closed to traffic along with the both tracks connecting Abul Hasan Isphahani Road to Abbas Town.
The thoroughfare leading from Guru Mandir to Numaish is open for traffic.
Both tracks between Kamran Chowrangi and Mosamiyat are also closed, whereas the road from Water Pump to Ancholi is also blocked. However, the road leading to Water Pump from Sohrab Goth is open.
Meanwhile, a sit-in is also being held at the University Road near Safari Park.
The road from Gulbai towards Paracha Chowk is closed, whereas the opposite track is open for traffic.
Furthermore, the thoroughfare leading from Orangi Town Road to Banaras is blocked, whereas the street coming from Banaras to Orangi Town is open.
FIRs to be lodged
Speaking on the issue, Sindh government spokesperson Sadia Javed said that Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has assured the protesters that the government will facilitate them if they are to convene and protest at one location.
Referring to yesterday’s clashes between protesters and the police which saw the former resorting to stone pelting and torching multiple motorcycles along with check post at Numaish Chowrangi which was then responded to by the cops with tear gas, Javed vowed that action would be taken against those involved in torching government property.
“FIRs will be filed against those who attacked the police. No one will be allowed to cause anarchy,” she said while speaking on Geo News‘ programme “Geo Pakistan”.
Her remarks echo the CM’s earlier statement wherein he warned of legal action against those who set fire to the vehicles.
When asked about the efforts to resolve the issue, the Sindh government spokesperson said that they were in contact with the other protesting party — ASWJ.
