Karachi Police Chief Javed Alam Odhu on Monday vowed to clear all roads of protesters by tonight as the sit-in by a political-religious party entered its seventh day today, disrupting life in the provincial capital. Paralyzed.
His remarks came at a time when the Majlis-e-Wahdat Muslimeen (MWM) continued its protest sit-in in the metropolis for the seventh consecutive day over the Parachinar crisis, causing severe traffic disruption for the residents of the city.
Addressing an event, the Additional Inspector General of Police (AIG) said that he had spoken to the protesters, adding that efforts were being made to remove the protesters from the streets till tonight.
“We are giving a clear message that we have received instructions to clear the roads by this evening,” he added.
“Officers have been instructed to vacate the roads before Maghrib prayers,” he said, warning that the police would deal with an iron hand if anyone resisted the execution of the state writ.
The Karachi Police Chief warned that those who refuse to vacate the roads will be removed as per the law. AIG believed that they would provide relief to the people of Karachi as they had to face a lot of difficulties in the last few days.
Referring to his dialogue with the protesters, Karachi’s top police official said that the clerics of the political-religious party agreed that the roads should not be blocked.
He warned that strict action would be taken if anyone tried to take the law into their hands.
A top police official said that paralyzing the entire system of the city is not appropriate.
Earlier, assurances from government officials, meanwhile, have failed to ease the road closures plaguing Karachi residents.
Citizens face restricted movement, businesses and weddings are disrupted, and flights and trains are missed.
Two days ago, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had said that if the suffering of the people increases, the provincial government will take action. Yesterday, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab remarked that the aim of these sit-ins is to paralyze daily life and disrupt business. It is the responsibility of the state to prevent it.
MWM is currently holding sit-ins at 13 locations. MA Jinnah Road and Nizam Chowrangi remained closed while sections of Pakistan Highway were closed at Ayesha Manzil and Incholi.
A track was closed near the Miller flyover on the National Highway. Protests are also being held outside KDA Flats in Five Star Chowrangi, Powerhouse Chowrangi, Ahsanabad and Sarjani.
More sit-ins are underway at Abul Hasan Isfahani Road near Abbas Town, University Road near Safari Park, Safora Chowrangi, Kamran Chowrangi and Johar Mor in Golestan Johar.
However, the dharna has been ended at Natha Khan Bridge and Malir 15 at two places on the city’s primary road, Shaara Faisal.
Additionally, the road from Golimar Chowrangi to Nazimabad No. 2 is also closed due to the ongoing sit-in.
However, MWM’s protest is not limited to Karachi as the religio-political party is also staging a dharna at Davies Road in Lahore due to which traffic is constantly snarled and the surrounding roads are also affected.