Karachi, Pakistan: Despite claims from the Sindh government, the ongoing protests in Karachi show no signs of subsiding, causing severe traffic disruptions across multiple key locations in the city. Demonstrations are continuing at seven major sites, with protesters calling attention to various social and political issues.
Key Locations Affected by Karachi Protests
According to Karachi traffic police, the following roads remain closed due to protests:
- Kamran Chowrangi to Meteorological Department
- Exhibition Chowrangi (fully blocked, although the road from Gurumander to Exhibition remains open)
- Abul Hassan Isphahani Road to Abbas Town (entirely blocked)
- Water Pump to Ancholi (blocked, with the road from Sihorab Goth to Water Pump open)
- Safari Park on University Road (active protest ongoing)
Other locations such as Gulbai Pracha Chowk, Orangi Town to Banas, and Banas to Orangi Town have also experienced significant traffic blockages, with protesters obstructing key routes.
Sindh Government Responds to Karachi Protests
In a media statement, Saadia Javed, spokesperson for the Sindh government, shared that Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had addressed the ongoing protests, urging protesters to stay in one place while assuring them that action would be taken against those who damage government properties. Javed further confirmed that FIRs would be filed against those who attacked the police during protests.
“The government is engaging with the opposing party to resolve the issue peacefully,” Javed added.
Javed also referenced KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, who had claimed the issue could be resolved swiftly, urging him to take action. Meanwhile, Karachi police used batons and tear gas to disperse protesters at several locations, escalating tensions further.
Religious Group Protest Intensifies Across Karachi
In addition to ongoing protests by various groups, workers of a religious group have organized sit-ins at nine locations across Karachi, including Star Gate, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Korangi, Tower, Old Sabzi Mandi, Guru Mandir, Nagan Chowrangi, Isa Nagri, Burns Road, and Qayyumabad. These protests have significantly impacted traffic flow, with long queues of vehicles forming at key intersections.
One of the major disruptions occurred at Orangi Town, where Pone Five Road was closed due to the religious group’s protest. The situation remained tense near the main protest site at Numaish Chowrangi, where police detained several protesters, and violent clashes resulted in property damage. Protesters set fire to a police vehicle, a police station, and six police motorcycles, while also throwing stones, injuring one police officer.
Protests Continue Despite Police Action
Tensions escalated at Numaish Chowrangi, where protesters gathered in solidarity with Parachinar residents. In this area, protesters set fire to four motorcycles, and police responded with shelling to disperse the crowd.
For the past six days, sit-ins organized by the Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) have been ongoing across Karachi, with protests particularly intensifying at Numaish Chowrangi. Despite the police crackdown, which included baton charges and tear gas, the protests have not ceased. Protests at Abbas Town and other locations have continued, and sit-ins have been reinitiated across the city in solidarity with the Parachinar protests.
MWM Leadership Condemns Police Action and Plans to Expand Protests
This morning, the MWM Karachi leadership strongly condemned the police shelling and baton charges against peaceful protesters. The leadership has vowed to expand protests across Sindh in the coming days.
In a statement at Numaish Chowrangi, prominent MWM leader Allama Hassan Zafar Naqvi declared that the protests would not be stopped and would continue until their cause is addressed. “We will sit in solidarity for as long as the Parachinar protest continues. Don’t mistake our peaceful protests for weakness,” Naqvi urged, rallying the nation to join the cause.
