Widespread protests to take place after Friday prayers in Karachi

Shia Ulema Council announced a nationwide protest against the siege of Parachinar which has resulted in the death of 100 children due to the depletion of stocks of medicines and food.

On Thursday, the Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) extended its ongoing protest in Karachi against the violence in Parachinar, vowing to continue the sit-in until the situation is resolved.

Planned protest areas in Karachi include:

Abbas Town, Abul Hassan Isphahani Road, Numaish Chowrangi, Ancholi, and Star Gate areas along Shahrah-e-Faisal, Gulistan-e-Johar, Gulshan-e-Haded, Gulshan-e-Maymar, Korangi, Malir 15 Flyover along National Highway 5, Rizvia Chowrangi in Nazimabad, Surjani Town in North Karachi.

According to the statement, members of a religious political party are demonstrating against the ongoing crisis in Parachinar. Traffic coming from Star Gate is being diverted via Shah Faisal Colony Bridge towards Shah Faisal Colony, while traffic from the city is being rerouted from Drigh Road to Rashid Minhas Road.

Normal life in Kurram District has been severely disrupted for the past 80 days due to road blockades.

In Parachinar, residents braved freezing temperatures to continue their sit-in outside the Press Club, marking the seventh consecutive day of protests against the deteriorating situation.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Advisor Ehtesham Ali stated that medicines are being supplied to basic health centers, including the DHQ in Parachinar and THQ Sadda. He also dismissed reports circulating on social media about the deaths of 100 children due to the crisis, calling them baseless.

In November, dozens of people were killed in Kurram Agency when armed men attacked passenger buses traveling between Peshawar and Parachinar.