Karachi Gridlock: Hundreds Break Fast Stuck in Traffic Jam Amid Press Club Road Blockade
Hundreds of commuters in Karachi on Monday evening faced severe disruptions during Ramadan 2025 as a road blockade near the Karachi Press Club caused massive traffic jams.
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) protesters had planned a rally from Lyari to the Press Club to protest against alleged enforced disappearances, prompting authorities to block key roads including Sarwar Shaheed Road, Aiwan-i-Saddar Road, and part of M.R. Kayani Road.
This led to hours-long traffic congestion on connecting routes such as Deen Muhammad Wafai Road, PIDC House Road, and I.I. Chundrigar Road, leaving many stranded during iftar.
The situation was compounded by pre-Ramadan shopping traffic, with major roads like Shahrah-e-Faisal, Rashid Minhas Road, and Liaqatabad Super Market already experiencing severe congestion.
Authorities advised commuters to plan alternative routes to avoid delays during this peak period.
Earlier in the day, Karachi police dispersed protesters and detained key members of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) during a demonstration against the recent arrests of its leadership and the crackdown on its Quetta sit-in.
The BYC had planned a protest at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) to condemn the “illegal detention” of its leaders, including Dr. Mahrang Baloch, who was arrested on Saturday along with 16 other activists from their protest camp in Quetta—a day after alleging that three protesters had died due to police action.
Following this, Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi issued a notification today imposing a ban on all gatherings across the city under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
As BYC supporters attempted to reach the KPC, they were intercepted by police at Fawara Chowk, leading to a confrontation with law enforcement.
On the other hand, KPC President Fazil Jameeli strongly condemned the closure of roads around the club and the restriction on the movement of journalists.
In a statement, the KPC president urged the Sindh IG to take notice of the “illegal act”.
He demanded Sindh’s police chief to issue orders to clear the roads around the KPC.
