Karachi is facing ongoing traffic disruptions as the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) protests enter their second week. The protests have blocked key roads, causing significant traffic jams. While the city police chief promised that the roads would be cleared by Monday evening, the situation remains unresolved, with protests continuing late into the night.
Protest Sit-ins Disrupt Key Roads
For the past week, MWM has held sit-ins at over a dozen major locations across Karachi. Key roads like M.A. Jinnah Road, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, and University Road remain blocked, creating chaos for commuters. The traffic police confirmed that the protests are still affecting major routes, making travel difficult for many.
MWM has announced that they will leave one lane open on each blocked road to allow some traffic flow. Despite this, the protests will continue until the blocked roads in Kurram are reopened, as this remains their primary demand.
Police Efforts to Clear Blocked Roads
Karachi’s police chief, Additional Inspector General Javed Alam Odho, stated that efforts would be made to clear the blocked roads by sunset. He explained that the government had ordered the police to restore normal traffic as quickly as possible. However, the situation did not improve, with sit-ins continuing throughout the evening.
A police spokesperson clarified that sit-ins should be organized in a way that does not disrupt the entire traffic flow. This clarification aimed to strike a balance between allowing the protests to continue and ensuring vehicles could pass through.
MWM’s Appeal for Peaceful Protests
At the Numaish sit-in, MWM leader Allama Hassan Zafar Naqvi appealed for peace and urged protesters to avoid any violence. He reiterated that the protests were not meant to create problems for citizens but to push for the reopening of the blocked roads in Kurram. Naqvi welcomed the police chief’s clarification and urged participants to ensure that one lane of the road remains open for traffic.
The MWM protests in Karachi are still causing severe traffic disruptions. Although police are working to clear the roads, the protests will continue until the demands for reopening the Parachinar road are met. Commuters should stay updated on road conditions and plan their routes accordingly.
