Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab on Saturday criticized the ongoing road blockades across the city, calling them an “inappropriate act” that has caused severe inconvenience to commuters. He also condemned the damage inflicted on newly-constructed roads by protestors. “Who gave them the right to damage the roads recently built in New Karachi?” he questioned while addressing reporters.
The protests, led by Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM), have entered their fourth consecutive day, with demonstrations at over 10 locations in Karachi. These sit-ins are part of a broader protest against the deteriorating situation in Parachinar, Kurram district. Key roads, including Sharea Faisal, MA Jinnah Road, Abul Hasan Isphani Road near Abbas Town, and University Road near Samama Shopping Centre, remain closed, causing widespread traffic disruptions.
Additional sit-ins at Five Star Chowrangi, Shahra-e-Pakistan near Ancholi, and Kamran Chowrangi in Gulistan-e-Johar have further compounded the city’s traffic woes. Mayor Wahab urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to address the Parachinar crisis, emphasizing that blocking Karachi’s arteries would not resolve the issue. “I have discussed this matter with [Sindh Minister] Nasir Hussain Shah, and talks with the protestors are ongoing.
We are hopeful for a resolution today,” he stated. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah echoed similar sentiments, appealing to the demonstrators to refrain from causing hardship to the public. “Blocking roads in Karachi and Sukkur will not solve the Parachinar issue,” he said.
Karachi Traffic Police have redirected vehicles to alternative routes to alleviate congestion. While some closures, such as on Sharea Faisal near Malir, have been partially reopened, others, including the National Highway near Township and Powerhouse Chowrangi, remain completely shut.
The protests have sparked a citywide debate on the balance between the right to demonstrate and the impact on public life, as authorities work toward a resolution.
