Karachi Traffic Disruptions Amid Parachinar Incident Protest
Karachi experienced significant traffic disruptions on Saturday as the Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) organized protests at multiple locations, including the prominent Numaish Chowrangi. This demonstration was held in solidarity with the people of Parachinar, causing massive traffic congestion across key roads and considerable delays for commuters.
MWM Protest Causes Major Traffic Jams
The MWM protest, which spanned 11 locations and included major points like Numaish Chowrangi, triggered severe traffic jams. Commuters struggled to move as the roads leading to these protest sites were either closed or diverted, affecting the flow of vehicles across the city. The protest was part of a larger campaign to show solidarity with Parachinar citizens, where unrest and violence had erupted earlier.
While the Kurram district, where Parachinar incident took place, saw a period of relative calm due to heightened security measures, Karachi remained under pressure with ongoing protests and traffic disruptions. The demonstration caused road closures across the city, including MA Jinnah Road, Abu al-Hasan Isfahani Road, and multiple other key intersections.
Road Closures and Disrupted Traffic
The following major roads were blocked due to the protests:
- MA Jinnah Road at Numaish Chowrangi
- Both lanes of Abu al-Hasan Isfahani Road situated near Super Highway
- Five Star Chowrangi
- University Road near Metro Shopping Center and Nipa
- National Highway at Malir 15 Bridge
- Shamsuddin Azimi Road near KDA Flats
- Surjani Road
- Ancholi on Shahrah Pakistan near Sohrab Goth
- The route leading to Karachi’s airport, specifically near Natha Khan
- Malir 15
These closures left commuters with few viable routes, making it difficult to travel to and from several key locations in Karachi.
Partial Traffic Resumption and Relief for Commuters
By the end of the day, partial traffic restoration was reported in several areas of the city. Commuters began to experience some relief as traffic resumed in regions such as Gurumandir, Lasbela, Patel Para, Golimar Chowrangi, and Teen Hatti. Areas like Karimabad, Ayesha Manzil, and Sohrab Goth also improved traffic flow. However, the road to Malir Airport near Natha Khan remained closed, causing ongoing disruption for travellers.
Traffic was restored from Shahrah-e-Qaudain to MA Jinnah Road, although the route from Numaish to Gurumandir remained blocked. Authorities worked to provide alternative routes for commuters to ease congestion.
Alternative Routes to Alleviate Congestion
To manage the traffic crisis, authorities implemented alternate routes in several key areas:
- Traffic from 45 Congress was diverted to PP Chowrangi and Gurumandir, and vehicles were redirected towards Soldier Bazaar.
- On Abu al-Hasan Isfahani Road, traffic was directed from Paradise Bakery to Faria Chowk.
- At Five Star Chowrangi, vehicles were rerouted through the Service Road as an alternative route. Similarly, traffic on University Road was diverted into surrounding inner roads, leading to a temporary change in the usual flow of vehicles.
- On Shahrah Faisal near Kala Chapra, traffic was diverted from Madam Signal towards Shah Faisal Colony Bridge.
- Traffic towards Quaidabad from Malir 15 Bridge was redirected towards Model Colony and Yunus Chowrangi.
These alternative routes helped alleviate congestion in some areas, but the protest’s impact was still felt in many parts of Karachi.
Nationwide Solidarity Protests
MWM’s protests weren’t confined to Karachi. Across Pakistan, protests were held in solidarity with Parachinar citizens following an appeal by Allama Raja Nasir Abbas Jafri. Speaking at the protests, Maulana Sadiq Jafri urged peaceful demonstrations, emphasizing that the sit-ins would continue until the people of Parachinar decided to end their protests.
The protests have drawn significant attention to Parachinar incident, a region that suffered considerable loss due to violence earlier in the year. A ceasefire in November provided temporary peace in Kurram district, but tensions remain high.
Political Leaders Respond to the Crisis
MWM leaders, including Allama Hassan Zafar Naqvi, have clarified that the situation in Parachinar should not be viewed as a sectarian conflict. He criticized the provincial and national governments for handling the situation, particularly accusing the KP Chief Minister and local administration of incompetence.
Naqvi also questioned the government’s response, asking whether the Prime Minister was only concerned with Islamabad and Lahore. He stressed that the government must take responsibility for the situation in Parachinar rather than attributing it solely to the KP government.
Conclusion
The protests by Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen in Karachi have drawn attention to the ongoing unrest and on Parachinar incident while simultaneously causing significant disruptions in the city. As the demonstrations continue, authorities are working to restore normalcy to traffic flow, but the effects of the protests are still being felt across Karachi. The situation remains tense, with the demonstrations extending nationwide in solidarity with citizens over Parachinar incident.
Source: AajNews
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