MWM sit-ins in Karachi reduce in numbers on day eight of protests

KARACHI: Despite the government's warnings, the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) continued their sit-ins throughout Karachi over the Parachinar situation for eighth day in a row on Tuesday.

The number of protests has though started declining in the metropolis after creating substantial disruptions for travellers.

The authorities failed to clear pathways for commuters for more than a week, inflicting financial damage upon the megalopolis as working and business classes were unable to travel freely.

Karachi Traffic Police said that demonstrators were staging sit-ins at various major crossroads across the city. However, the number of protest sites significantly decreased from 13 to just three before protestors reemerged at two more locations by the filing of this report.

As per police, the MWM demonstrations continued at Safari Park on University Road, Kamran Chowrangi, Numaish Chowrangi, Lasbela, and Abbas Town. The road leading to Jauhar Mor from Jauhar Chowrangi was opened for traffic.

At Kamran Chowrangi, more police force was summoned as the situation grew tense this morning upon continued blockage of roads.

The senior superintendent of police (SSP) East and Sindh Rangers personnel arrived at the site to end the sit-in but to no avail.

Additionally, the participants of the sit-in at Karman Chowrangi pegged tents, while police tried to negotiate with the protestors, who refused to end the sit-in and open roads.

Meanwhile, the protests at Five Star Chowrangi, Shamsuddin Azeemi Road, Surjani Town, Ancholi, and Golimar Chowrangi were called off to clear pathways for commuters.

Whereas, police removed obstructions and dispersed protesters from the Abul Hassan Isphani Road after a brief spell of clashes with protesters.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, addressing media in Thatta, said the provincial government had last night asked the demonstrators to hold the protest at one place only without disturbing other citizens.

However, he said, they did not fulfil their commitment to end the city-wide protests. The Sindh CM said the ongoing sit-ins at four more places would be removed through administrative action and talks.

"We are not against peaceful protests, nevertheless, they have hurt people," he said.

The provincial government sent relief goods for Parachinar as well, he said, adding that the issue of Parachinar would be resolved in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, not here.

Murad said the government was taking action against the sit-ins which might make some people angry. "It is the government’s responsibility to address it if common men are troubled," he said.

Last night, the MWM and a delegation of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) addressed the media after a meeting on ongoing protests and sit-ins across the city.

PPP leader Saeed Ghani expressed solidarity with the bereaved families of the Parachinar tragedy victims, saying: "We are deeply grieved over the incident and extend our condolences to the martyrs' families."

Paying tribute to the resilience of women and children participating in the protests, the PPP leader remarked: "We salute their courage."

He added: "It is your right to protest." However, he urged organisers of the protest sit-ins to limit their demonstrations to a single location.

On the occasion, AIG Javed Alam also spoke to the media. According to him, additional security personnel have been deployed across the city to ensure security of the sit-ins.

MWM leader Allama Hassan Zafar Naqvi said: "We respect your opinion." However, in a muted refusal of the delegation's request, he noted that it is not possible for him to give a definitive answer right away as various sit-ins have different organisers.

Hassan had earlier said that they are willing to end sit-ins in Karachi if the Parachinar protest is called off. "We have staged these sit-ins at the request of Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and will end them upon his directive," he said during a media talk on Sunday night.

Parachinar, located in Kurram, is a tribal district near the Afghan border with a population of around 600,000. It has long been a hotspot for conflict.

Recent clashes, that erupted in November, have killed at least 130 people and triggered a humanitarian crisis, with shortages of medicine and oxygen exacerbated by the closure of the highway connecting Parachinar to Peshawar.

A breakthrough in the ongoing peace talks in Kohat is likely as the grand jirga is set to resume today.