At least two policemen were injured as Karachi police attempted to disperse sit-ins held throughout the city. Such protests were organised in response to recent killings in Parachinar, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram district.

The Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) had called for nationwide demonstrations to show solidarity with the residents of Parachinar, who have been protesting since December 20 against the deteriorating law and order situation and ongoing road closures.

The demonstrators are voicing their concerns over the escalating violence in Kurram, particularly following a tragic incident where two individuals were ambushed, killed, and decapitated while travelling to Parachinar in the Bagan area.

The sit-ins, which have persisted for a week, have blocked major thoroughfares in response to the recent killings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Parachinar.

Protesters have demanded the reopening of a road in the Kurram district city that has been closed for 90 days, affecting access to essential food and medicines, as reported by traffic police and organizers.

Activists and leaders from the mainstream religio-political party stated that they would continue their sit-ins across Karachi after failed negotiations with police and city officials a day prior.

Police detained several protesters and dismantled the camp of MWM following escalating tensions marked by arson and stone-pelting while also regaining control of Numaish Chowrangi in Karachi.

In the Malir 15 area, police used tear gas and batons to disperse demonstrators, resulting in a power outage in the affected region. The situation remained volatile as clashes continued between police and protesters.

In the unrest, two police officers were injured due to gunfire. One of the wounded officers, Niaz Khan, is from the Shaheen Force in Korangi while the other, Zaigham, is stationed at the Saudabad police station.

Police also resorted to tear gas against protesters during a crackdown in the Rizvia Society area.

Tensions escalate at Karachi’s Numaish Chowrangi as police, protesters clash

Clashes were reported between police and protesters, who had staged a sit-in against recent killings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Parachinar, at Karachi’s Numaish Chowrangi on Tuesday as the provincial government tasked authorities to maintain order.

Live footage from the area showed policemen firing tear gas shells at protesters and protesters hurling stones at them.

Demonstrators reportedly smashed a police vehicle, leading to severe clashes. They allegedly set fire to motorcycles and a car, with four motorcycles and one car reported to have been burned.

According to a statement from the Karachi Traffic Police spokesperson, sit-ins took place at 13 locations throughout the city.

Key areas affected included MA Jinnah Road near Numaish Chowrangi, Kamran Chowrangi in Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Jauhar Mor, Block 19-20 in Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Safoora Chowrangi, Abul Hasan Ispahani Road, Five Star Chowrangi, University Road near Metro, Shamsuddin Azeemi Road in Surjani Town, Sharea Pakistan at Ancholi, Nawab Siddiqi Ali Khan Road in Nazimabad-1, Power House Chowrangi at Nagan, and Sharea Pakistan at Ayesha Manzil. Traffic has been redirected through alternative routes due to such closures.

Tuesday marked the eighth day of protests in the city. Demonstrations that had briefly ended earlier in the day restarted, with protesters gathered at Abbas Town, Ancholi, and Ayesha Manzil.

Amid the crackdown, MWM central leader Allama Syed Hasan Zafer Naqvi threatened that “the protest would continue come what may. We will resume protests at the locations where they were previously ended.”

Sindh CM Murad takes notice of vehicle fires

No one is permitted to damage public or private property, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said after reports that multiple vehicles and motorcycles were burned during the police crackdown on protesters in the city.

“Everyone has the right to protest, but causing damage to public property in this manner is disruptive,” he said in a statement. The Sindh chief minister assured that legal action would be taken against those responsible for setting vehicles on fire.

CM Murad mentioned that designated areas for protests have already been approved to maintain order. He directed the additional IG to improve the situation and provide an “immediate report” on the chaos in the city.

Morning update

The situation was volatile in Abbas Town where police reportedly used shelling and aerial firing to control the situation.

Earlier reports said that police had successfully cleared all protests across the city, however, this proved inaccurate. While the number of protest sites decreased from 12 this morning, police actions focused on five locations within a 90-minute period.

Police action was initially reported in Abbas Town on Abu al-Hasan Isfahani Road, with further deployments near the University Road, Metro and Kamran Chowrangi.

Updated reports said that protests continue at three locations: the Expo Centre, University Road near Samama Shopping Mall, and Kamran Chowrangi. The main protest remained centred at the Expo Centre Chowrangi.

A large contingent of Rangers and police were present at the Kamran Chowrangi where protesters and police remained in a tense standoff. Protesters vowed to remain at the site.

An agreement among tribes in Parachinar is expected on Saturday to restore peace in the district, with another grand jirga scheduled at the Kohat Commissioner’s House.

Protests that concluded earlier in the day included Johar Chowrangi, Five Star, Sehrāb Goth, Nazimabad, and Sarjani, with roads subsequently reopened to traffic.

MWM blames government for blocking roads

Sindh Minister for Energy and Planning Syed Nasir Hussain Shah on Monday expressed his hope that protests would either end or be moved to the side of the road.

“We have spoken to the administration and I hope if the sit-ins are not ended they will be on one side of the road,” he said while appearing via video link on the Aaj News programme News Insight with Amir Zia.

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He appealed to religious leaders to help find a solution. Protesters had given assurances four days prior but had not removed obstructions, Shah said and added that the government had “never permitted road closures.”

In contrast, MWM leader Allama Hassan Zafar Naqvi refuted such claims.

On the same news programme, he alleged that the provincial government itself was responsible for road closures in Karachi. He also denied any negotiations between protesters and Javed Alam Odho, contradicting statements from the Karachi police chief.