Civil society and Baloch Yakjehti Committee held a protest on Monday against the FIR registered against Baloch nationalist leader Mahrang Baloch, who has been voicing her concerns over the issue of missing persons.
The protest caused severe traffic jams on major roads in Karachi, forcing many commuters to end their fasts on the streets. The FIR has sparked outrage from human rights organisations and activists, who demand the immediate withdrawal of the case and the release of all detained protesters.
The protest was held near the Karachi Press Club, where a heavy police presence was ensured by the authorities. Reports indicate that the protesters were prevented from reaching the designated protest site, escalating the situation further.
Due to road closures, major arteries around the city experienced long traffic queues, leaving vehicles stranded for hours. Due to the congestion, the traffic police closed Din Muhammad Wafai Road, MR Kiyani Chowrangi and Fawara Chowk. raffic was diverted to alternative routes, which also resulted in massive gridlocks. Police detained several protesters, including women, near Fawara Chowk and took them to various police stations.