Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab on Saturday criticized the ongoing road blockades in the city under the guise of protests, calling it an inappropriate act. He also condemned protesters for damaging newly constructed roads, questioning, “Who authorized them to harm roads built recently in New Karachi?”
Sit-ins by a politico-religious party have entered their fourth day, severely disrupting traffic flow and causing inconvenience across Karachi. Protest demonstrations are ongoing at over 12 locations, including major arteries like Numaish Chowrangi, Sharea Faisal, Malir-15, Golimar, Powerhouse Chowrangi, University Road, and others.
The mayor emphasized that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government should address the situation in Parachinar but added that blocking Karachi’s roads would not resolve the issue. He noted that Sindh Minister Nasir Hussain Shah is working to resolve the matter, expressing hope that discussions with the protesters would yield results soon.
Traffic Police reported central protests at Numaish Chowrangi and road closures at key locations like Abul Hasan Isphani Road, University Road, Surjani Town, and Shahra-e-Pakistan, leading to significant congestion. Vehicles are being diverted through alternative routes to manage traffic.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah urged protesters to avoid public inconvenience, asserting that blocking roads in Karachi and Sukkur would not solve Parachinar’s crisis.
Parachinar, a tribal district near the Afghan border, has long been a conflict hotspot. Recent clashes between tribal groups have resulted in over 130 fatalities and triggered a humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by shortages of medicine and oxygen due to highway closures.
In response, the Sindh governor dispatched a helicopter carrying medical supplies and aid to Parachinar to alleviate the growing crisis.
