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Sunday January 05, 2025

Karachi’s traffic situation improves after sit-ins for Parachinar end

By Faraz Khan
January 03, 2025
MWM protesters stage a sit-in at Karachi Numaish area on December 26, 2024. — X/@mwmpakofficial
MWM protesters stage a sit-in at Karachi Numaish area on December 26, 2024. — X/@mwmpakofficial

The Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) ended their nine-day-long sit-ins across Karachi on Wednesday night, improving the traffic situation in the city, and while the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) continued their protests for the third consecutive day on Thursday, they also announced ending their sit-ins in the afternoon.

The ASWJ’s announcement was made at a press conference at their central sit-in at Lasbela Chowk, where their central leader Allama Aurangzeb Farooqui stressed implementing the decisions of the Apex Committee regarding Parachinar, and called for an end to protest politics in Karachi.

Farooqui said prolonged protests primarily harm the public and business owners, causing unnecessary hardships for them. He suggested designating specific areas for holding protests to minimise disruptions to daily lives.

He criticised the practice of holding protests in Karachi over issues that originate elsewhere, saying that such actions disproportionately affect the city’s residents and traders. “Let it be clear that if anyone attempts to disrupt the city’s peace, they’ll have to face us. I demand the immediate abolition of the protest system in Karachi,” he said.

“If anyone tries to use protests as a cover for political motives, they’ll have to face us. If anyone tries to harm our economy, we’ll stand firm alongside other stakeholders.” He demanded that Kurram Agency be cleansed of weapons, and a military operation be conducted there to restore law and order. He claimed that terrorism in Pakistan is linked to Iran. “Just as Iranian terrorists destroyed Iraq [...], we demand that Pakistan also be rid of Iranian terrorists.”

He called for providing aid to areas like Bagan, Parachinar and the Bashirah village in Kurram Agency, where conditions have deteriorated. He also asked why groups like the MWM chose not to protest on the streets of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and instead paralysed Karachi.

He accused the MWM of violating law and order, and causing inconvenience to Karachi’s residents by holding sit-ins and blocking roads. He said the Apex Committee has decided to disarm Kurram Agency, but some groups refuse to surrender their weapons, portraying themselves as victims.

He claimed that certain elements are using protests as a cover to hide foreign weapons, with the aim to destabilise Pakistan, and turn it into another Iraq. “Our ancestors made great sacrifices for Pakistan, so we’ll not allow it to be tarnished by those who disrespect its flag or collude with banned foreign organisations.”

The MWM had been holding sit-ins since December 24 to express solidarity with the people of Parachinar and Kurram Agency. Their central sit-in was held at Numaish, while over 10 other locations, including Abbas Town, Kamran Chowrangi, Ancholi, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Five Star Chowrangi and Old Rizvia, were also blocked by protesters.

This caused severe traffic disruptions, turning short commutes into hours-long journeys and causing immense inconvenience to residents. To alleviate the people’s distress, police cracked down on the sit-ins this past Tuesday, arresting 19 protesters, including MWM leader Asghar Hussain Shaheedi, from Numaish.

During the crackdown, clashes broke out between police and protesters, resulting in cases being registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act against some 700 people, most of them unidentified, at the Sachal, Saudabad and Soldier Bazaar police stations.

Despite the crackdown, the MWM continued their protests until Wednesday night, when they announced ending their sit-ins after a peace agreement was signed in Parachinar. However, the ASWJ continued their sit-ins until their press conference scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

While the MWM has officially ended their sit-ins, the possibility of more FIRs being registered against protesters has increased due to the attacks on police officials during the crackdown.

The policemen who were targeted have reportedly contacted the Soldier Bazaar police to register cases against their attackers. According to initial reports, three incidents have been highlighted.

In one case an attack was carried out near Numaish on Abdul Khaliq Ansar, incharge of police rehabilitation, and his gunman, resulting in damages to their government-issued vehicle. In another incident Sub-Inspector Saqib and Police Constable Junaid were injured due to violence by protesters. Police have also obtained footage showing protesters pelting stones at two police vehicles, including one belonging to Kharadar DSP Chaudhry Shabbir.