Traffic disruptions in Karachi remained significant on Saturday as sit-ins continued across the city for the fifth consecutive day, protesting the killings in Parachinar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram district. The protests, organized by the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM), are part of a nationwide demonstration that began in response to the tragic incident in Kurram, where two individuals were killed and decapitated after being ambushed while traveling toward Parachinar.
The MWM had called for protests across the country to express solidarity with the people of Parachinar, who have been staging their own sit-in since December 20 to demand action against the deteriorating law and order situation and the ongoing road blockages.
In Karachi, multiple sit-ins continued to block key roads, causing traffic congestion throughout the city. The protests affected all seven districts, with major roads being obstructed, leading to significant inconvenience for residents. By Friday night, demonstrations had spread across 12 locations in the city, and today, one more location was added, according to Karachi Traffic Police.
Sit-ins were held at major points including M. A. Jinnah Road near Numaish, Abul Hasan Ispahani Road near Abbas Town, Five Star Chowrangi in North Nazimabad, University Road near Samama Shopping Centre, Sharea Faisal near Star Gate, Korangi, National Highway near Malir 15, Shamsuddin Azimi Road in Surjani Town, Shahrah-i-Pakistan near Ancholi, Kamran Chowrangi in Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Nawab Siddique Ali Khan Road near Nazimabad No 1, National Highway near Steel Town, and the Power House roundabout in North Karachi.
In an update from the Karachi Traffic Police, it was reported that the section of Sharea Faisal heading towards the city from Kala Chapra Road had been cleared for traffic, although the opposite side remained closed. The protests are expected to continue, with organizers and participants maintaining pressure on authorities for action on the Parachinar situation.
An update from the Karachi Traffic Police reported slow traffic flow on Drigh Road due to the closure of Sharea Faisal.
“Traffic is slow on the Karsaz side of Drigh Road, as well as on both directions leading to and from the Millennium side,” the statement read. The police also mentioned that officers were present at the scene to divert traffic.
Earlier, the traffic police had redirected vehicles to alternative routes. However, long queues of cars, trucks, and trailers were visible across the city, with congestion persisting late into the night.
In addition to the protests in Karachi, the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) Lahore wing has been holding a demonstration outside the Lahore Press Club since last week. This includes MWM leaders such as Vice Chairman Allama Ahmad Iqbal Rizvi, Punjab President Allama Akbar Ali Kazmi, and Lahore President Najam Khan.
Meanwhile, in Rawalpindi, the Tehreek-i-Nifaz-i-Fiqh-i-Jafariya (TNFJ) Regional Council organized a protest rally on Friday, which began at Liaquat Bagh Chowk and moved toward Committee Chowk on Murree Road. The rally marked the “Day of Martyrs and the Oppressed,” as called by TNFJ head Allama Agha Syed Hussain Maqdisi, to condemn the worsening situation in Parachinar. Protest gatherings were also held at central mosques across the country following Friday prayers.
The unrest in Kurram district, stemming from long-standing land disputes and exacerbated by deadly tribal clashes, has led to at least 130 deaths since last month. The violence began after an attack on a convoy that killed 52 passengers. Residents in the area are facing severe shortages of food and medicine, with reports of several children dying as a result. In response, the KP government has launched a helicopter service to airlift residents, with 613 people evacuated so far.
