Karachi police issue traffic plan as MWM holds sit-ins over Parachinar

The sit-ins organised by the religious-political party over the killings in Parachinar of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram district expanded in Karachi, prompting the traffic authorities to issue traffic plans to ensure that commuters face minimal disruption. 

The demonstrators extended their protest after Majlis Wehdat-e-Muslimeen gave a country-wide call of protest to express solidarity with the people of Parachinar, who have been staging sit-ins for six days against the violent clashes that have claimed over 100 lives since late November. 

Expressing solidarity with the victims, the MWM staged sit-ins on MA Jinnah Road and Abbas Town, and the protest was extended to Malir and the national highway. 

“Main National Highway from Malir-15 Bridge towards Quaidabad was closed for the traffic due to the sit-ins,” Dawn quoted the spokesperson of police, who stated that the “traffic is being diverted from Malir towards Model Colony.” 

In a further development, the traffic police shared the alternative routes plan, aiming to avoid inconvenience for commuters. 

Under the plan, the MA Jinnah route has been closed to traffic, which is being diverted to Congress 45 to Peoples Chowrangi and Guru Mandir to Soldier Bazar.

Similarly, traffic coming from the society signal is being redirected to Corridor Three, which includes Britto Road, Soldier Bazar, and Gurumandir.

Due to road closures near Abbas Town, traffic from Abu al-Hassan Isfani Road toward Super Highway is restricted. Vehicles are being diverted from Paradise Bakery to Faria Chowk and through inner streets as an alternative route. The service road from Ranger Cut has been redirected to Punjab Adda.

Five Star Chowrangi is completely closed to traffic, while vehicles can use the service road as an alternative. University Road, from Metro Shopping Center to Samama and Nepa, is also closed for commuters, and traffic is being redirected to inner areas.

Main Shahrah-e-Faisal is closed at Kala Chapra. Vehicles coming from Madam Signal are being diverted from the Shah Faisal Colony Bridge to Shah Faisal Colony.

Commuters travelling from the city are being redirected from Drug Road to Rashid Minhas Road. Additionally, traffic coming from Millennium has been diverted from Drug Road back into the city.

Malir 15 Bridge is close to the main national highway from Quaidabad. Traffic is being redirected from Malir Halt to Model Colony, Manzil Pump to Younus Chowrangi, and from Dawood Chowrangi to the Industrial Area.

It is important to note that last month, dozens of people were killed in a shooting incident involving a passenger bus in Kurram Agency. There were two passenger vehicles, one travelling from Peshawar to Parachinar and the other from Parachinar to Peshawar, that were fired upon by armed men.