Sit-ins cause traffic woes in Karachi, police chief orders to clear roads

KARACHI: Karachi Police Chief Javed Alam Odho has said that police have been directed to clear all roads of Karachi from protesters before sunset.

He said that anyone who attempted to resist the write of the state would be dealt with severely.

On the call of the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) against mass killings in Kurram and Parachinar, protest sit-ins have been staged on different roads, which have severely disrupted traffic and daily routine for the last one week.

Addressing an event at the Garden Police Headquarters, the Karachi police chief said that negotiations have already been held with the protesters, and “we will try to disperse them till this evening. Those who do not obey the orders will be forced to disperse to give relief to the Karachi residents.”

The Karachi police chief said that they had held talks with the protesters till late night. He said that religious scholars have also said that roads should not be closed in this way.

“It is not right to paralyze the entire city in the name of a protest. If someone blocks the road and attempts to take the law into their hands, we will deal with them strictly.”

Karachi police spokesperson denies statement

On the other hand, a Karachi Police spokesperson clarified that reports circulating on social media about the Karachi Police chief’s order to do away with the sit-ins “are baseless and misleading.” He said that “linking the said news to end the sit-ins is unfounded and a result of misunderstanding.”

The spokesperson said that the Karachi Police chief’s statement did not call for an end to the sit-ins but emphasised that they should be staged in a manner that did not disrupt traffic flow.

Protests continue at 12 places in Karachi

On the other hand, the MWM has staged sit-ins at 12 different places in Karachi on the Parahinar issue.

Sit-ins are currently under way at Numaish Chowrangi, Kamran Chowrangi, Johar Chowrangi, Johar Block 19, Safora Chowrangi, Abul Hasan Isfahani Road, Five Star Chowrangi and University Road.

Apart from this, sit-ins are under way at KDA Flats in Surjani Town, Ancholi, Ayesha Manzil on Sharjah Pakistan and Golimar Chowrangi.

Due to the ongoing sit-ins, traffic has faced disruptions with traffic police diverting vehicles to alternative routes.

Major roads in Karachi have been witnessing traffic congestion during the peak hours.

On Sunday, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Adviser Barrister Saif said that the Jirga continued till late into the night in an effort to resolve the Kurram dispute.

He said that a general consensus been reached between the two rival parties, however, one party has sought two days for consultation only on a specific few points.

In a statement issued, Barrister Saif said that the Jirga to resolve the Kurram dispute continued till late into the night in Kohat.