Karachi Faces Major Traffic Jams as Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen Protests Over Parachinar Crisis
In response to the situation, the Karachi Traffic Police have urged commuters to remain patient as they navigate the ongoing disruptions.
Karachi is currently experiencing significant traffic disruptions due to ongoing protests organized by the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) in response to the crisis in Parachinar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
These protests, which began on Thursday and have continued into Friday, involve sit-ins that have blocked major roads, severely affecting commuter movement during peak hours.
MWM leader Allama Hassan Zafar Naqvi stated that the residents of Parachinar are encircled from all directions. He cautioned that if the current situation continues, protests will erupt in every divisional headquarters across Pakistan.
Expressing solidarity with the sit-in in Parachinar, Naqvi called on the federal and KP governments to reopen the blocked roads.
MWM chief Allama Raja Nasir Abbas Jafri, in a telephonic address from Numaish, described the unfolding situation in Kurram Agency as a humanitarian crisis.
“Deaths are occurring due to road closures, leading to shortages of food and medicine,” Jafri said, urging the government to heed the demands of the people of Parachinar.
Key Areas Affected
- M.A. Jinnah Road: This main artery is closed at Numaish Chowrangi, causing diversions and heavy congestion.
- Abul Hasan Ispahani Road: Sit-ins have been reported here as well, further complicating traffic flow.
- Shahrah-e-Faisal: Sections of this critical road are inaccessible, with traffic being rerouted through alternative routes like Drigh Road and Rashid Minhas Road.
- National Highway at Malir 15 Bridge: This area is also blocked, leading to significant delays for vehicles trying to navigate towards Quaidabad.
- Five Star Chowrangi: The is also closed; however, traffic is moving via the service road. Alternative routes within inner-city areas are being utilised to maintain the flow of vehicles.
Traffic Management
The Karachi Traffic Police have issued advisories for commuters to use alternative routes due to the extensive road closures. Key diversions include:
From Gurumandir: Traffic is being diverted through Secretariat Chowrangi and Guru Mandir to Soldier Bazaar as alternative routes.
From Peoples Chowrangi: Vehicles are being sent towards Corridor 3 to alleviate congestion on main roads.
On Sharea Faisal: the stretch from Star Gate to Malir is inaccessible, and traffic is being directed from Drigh Road to Rashid Minhas Road.
National Highway at the Malir 15 Bridge incline towards Quaidabad is blocked. Traffic is being diverted from Malir Halt to Model Colony, while vehicles are being rerouted from Manzil Pump to Younus Chowrangi and Daud Chowrangi to the Industrial Area.
The protests stem from a crisis in Parachinar, where violent clashes have reportedly resulted in over 130 deaths, including many children due to a lack of medical supplies. While local government officials have disputed some reports regarding child fatalities, the situation remains dire, prompting MWM’s actions in Karachi as a show of solidarity with those affected.
