Karachi Police Chief Additional Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Javed Alam Odho announced on Monday that the city’s roads were likely to be cleared of protesters by the afternoon, when the ongoing Majlis Wahdat-e- Muslimeen (MWM) entered their seventh day.
The protests, which have disrupted life across Karachi, are being held in response to the Parachinar crisis.
Speaking at an event, AIGP Odho said authorities had engaged in talks with the protesters and efforts were being made to remove them from the streets ahead of the Maghrib prayers.
He said police had received clear instructions to clear the roads in the afternoon and warned that any resistance would be dealt with firmly according to the law.
“We are giving a clear message that we have been instructed to clear the roads this afternoon,” Odho said. “Those who refuse to clear the roads will be expelled according to the law.”
He also noted that the ongoing protests were causing major disruption to the residents of Karachi and that the entire city system should not be paralyzed.
The MWM protests have caused severe traffic disruptions, with 13 key locations in the city affected, including MA Jinnah Road, Numaish Chowrangi, Shahrah-e-Pakistan and areas near the Malir flyover.
Businesses, weddings and travel plans have been greatly affected, and incidents of missed flights and train schedules continue. Despite earlier assurances from government officials, protests persist.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had earlier indicated that the provincial government would intervene if public unrest increased. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab also criticized the protests, stating that the goal appeared to be to paralyze daily life and that it was the state’s responsibility to prevent such disruptions.
While sit-ins have been called off at two points in Sharea Faisal, protests continue at several other places including Five Star Chowrangi, Powerhouse Chowrangi and University Road.
