KARACHI: Protest sit-ins by a religious-political party against closure of routes and deadly tension in Parachinar, District Kurram, continues to paralyse various parts of Karachi for the sixth consecutive day on Sunday.
Travelling has become a nightmare for a number of citizens as traffic gets clogged at different points and the commuters have to take a diversion which further aggravates the traffic situation on other arteries as well.
The protest demonstrations are being staged at more than 11 different locations, including main arteries.
Besides other locations, demonstrations are currently being staged at Numaish Chowrangi, Natha Khan bridge on Sharea Faisal, in front of KDA flats in Surjani Town, Golimar, Power House Chowrangi, near Safari Park on University Road, Korangi No 2 ½, Five Star Chowrangi in North Nazimabad, Abul Hassan Isphani road, Kamran Chowrangi in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Incholi society and near Ayesha Manzil.
The traffic police, however, said that alternative routes have been provided to facilitate the commuters.
Nevertheless, police’s efforts to clear the road, leading to the Airport area from Natha Khan, through negotiations with the demonstrators failed.
Police said protest on the Natha Khan-Airport road continued, while traffic flowed on the road leading to Saddar from Natha Khan on Sharea Faisal.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab on Saturday slammed continuous blockades of roads in Karachi “under the guise of protest”, saying it was an inappropriate act.
The mayor also rebuked the protestors for damaging newly-constructed roads. “Who allowed them to damage the roads constructed recently in New Karachi,” he said, while speaking to reporters.
