Karachi’s Roads Held Hostage: A Call for Resolution, Emergency Services and Daily Life Disrupted Across the City.
- Social Media Divided Over Sit-Ins: Solidarity or Disruption?
- Mayor Murtaza Wahab Criticizes Damage to Karachi’s Infrastructure
- Key Locations Blocked: Numaish Chowrangi, Sharea Faisal, and More
- Tragic Context: 41 Lives Lost in Parachinar Violence Sparks Outrage
- Karachi Residents Demand Relief as Protests Enter Seventh Day
Karachi: Life in Karachi remains disrupted as protest sit-ins, now entering their seventh (7th) consecutive day, continue to choke vital roads across the city. Organized by a religious-political party, the demonstrations aim to express solidarity with victims of the tragic violence in Parachinar, District Kurram. While the protests highlight a pressing issue, they have brought immense hardship to Karachi’s residents, sparking frustration and calls for a resolution.
Commuting Becomes an Ordeal
Karachiites are grappling with daily traffic jams as the protests block major thoroughfares, forcing commuters to take lengthy detours that worsen congestion across the city. “It’s unbearable. I was stuck on Sharea Pakistan for hours, and I had to take an alternative route which was just as bad,” lamented a motorist.
The sit-ins have paralyzed key locations, including Abul Hassan Isphani Road, Ancholi, Numaish Chowrangi, Natha Khan Bridge, Five Star Chowrangi in North Nazimabad, Kamran Chowrangi, Golimar, Korangi No. 2½, Safari Park, and Ayesha Manzil, among others. The chaos has also disrupted public transport, emergency services, and routine activities, leaving citizens struggling to go about their lives.
The Parachinar Tragedy That Sparked Protests
The protests were sparked by outrage over the November 21 violence in Lower Kurram, where passenger vehicles were ambushed and fired upon, killing 41 people, including 8 women and 5 children.
The tragedy escalated into further violence, with gunfire exchanged between groups in the area. The main highway connecting Kurram Agency to Peshawar was also shut down, isolating the region and worsening the humanitarian crisis.
Social Media and Public Reaction
The sit-ins have divided public opinion, especially on social media, where debates rage over the appropriateness of the protests. Critics argue that blocking roads and creating hardships for millions is not the solution. One user wrote, “These protests are causing more harm to the public than resolving the issue in Parachinar.”
Supporters, however, insist that the demonstrations are a necessary step to draw attention to the plight of Parachinar’s victims. This polarization reflects the broader challenge of balancing solidarity with logistical and public concerns.
Appeals from Leadership
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has appealed to the protestors to reconsider their methods. “Blocking roads in Karachi and Sukkur will not resolve the Parachinar issue,” he stated, urging demonstrators to avoid causing further hardship to the public. His appeal echoed the sentiments of many Karachiites who have been enduring the disruptions.
Karachi’s Mayor, Murtaza Wahab, also voiced strong criticism of the protests, condemning the traffic blockades and damage to newly constructed roads. “Who gave them the authority to destroy infrastructure that serves the public?” he questioned, calling for peaceful alternatives to demonstrate solidarity without paralyzing the city.
A City at a Standstill
Despite mounting criticism and official appeals, the protests show no signs of subsiding. The demonstrators remain steadfast, demanding attention to the ongoing crisis in Parachinar. Meanwhile, Karachi’s residents are left dealing with the brunt of the disruptions, from delayed emergency services to interrupted daily routines.
The ongoing sit-ins underscore the challenges of managing large-scale protests in a city as densely populated as Karachi. While the demonstrators’ cause is significant, the method of protest continues to draw ire from citizens and officials alike.
Karachiites are now urging the government to take decisive action to restore normalcy to the city while addressing the concerns of the Parachinar victims. For many, the hope is for a resolution that balances justice for the victims with relief for the millions impacted by the sit-ins.