Prolonged road closures deepen Karachiites misery on day nine of MWM protests

KARACHI: Citizens in the country's financial hub continue to face difficulty in commuting as traffic congestion persists due to Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen's (MWM) ongoing sit-ins over the Parachinar crisis, now entering their ninth day on Wednesday.

Currently, sit-ins are being held at seven locations across the city, with MWM protesters joined by Sunnat wal Jamaat (ASWJ) workers, whose demonstrations began on Tuesday.

According to the traffic police the thoroughfare leading from Abul Hassan Isphahani Road, Abbas Town, towards Sohrab Goth is blocked along with the street from Kamran Chowrangi to Mosamiyat.

The track heading towards Guru Mandir from Numaish Chowrangi is also closed as well as the street from Water Pump to Ancholi.

Furthermore, the way leading from University Road, Safari Park towards Safoora Chowrangi is also blocked.

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.

Cases lodged

Meanwhile, a first information report (FIR) has been registered at the Soldier Bazar Police Station on behalf of the station house officer (SHO) regarding protesters' clash with the police at the Numaish Chowrangi.

The FIR includes anti-terror provisions as well as those related to murder, attempted murder, rioting, damage to government property etc., and claims that the protesters attacked the police upon the latter's effort to disperse them.

A few individuals have been named in the FIR along with 300 to 350 unknown people who include 50 to 60 women and 250 to 300 men.

It also mentions that five shells from a 30-bore handgun have also been recovered from the incident site.

Separately, another case has been registered at Malir's Saudabad Police Station over the clash between protesters and police. The FIR names three individuals along with 150 unknown people.

With anti-terror and riot-related provisions, the FIR says that demonstrators holding a sit-in at the National Highway attacked the police with sticks and resorted to stone pelting.

The miscreants also opened fire on the police injuring Constables Zaigham and Ayaz Gul. A police vehicle was also damaged due to stone pelting and three motorcycles were set ablaze, reads the FIR.

The FIRs come as Sindh government spokesperson Sadia Javed, while speaking on Geo News' programme "Geo Pakistan" earlier in the day, vowed action against those who attacked the police and that no one would be allowed to cause anarchy.

Speaking on the protests, Javed noted 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.

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.