MWM continues sit-ins in Karachi despite crackdown on protesters

• MWM sit-in camp at Numaish demolished by police.   
• Police fire tear gas shells and baton-change protesters.
• Several protesters arrested after clashes at Numaish.

KARACHI: Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) continued to stage its sit-ins against Parachinar crisis in several parts of Karachi, the country’s economic hub, despite crackdown on the protesters by the law enforcement agencies.

Currently, protest demonstrations are being staged at at least nine different locations, paralysing daily life and economic activities in the metropolis.

According to Karachi traffic police, Abul Hasan Isphahani Road, Numaish Chowrangi, Kamran Chowrangi, the road leading to Sohrab Goth from Ancholi, Lasbela, Tower and other areas are closed for traffic due to the sit-ins by the politico-religious party.

Earlier in the evening, the police, following multiple engagements with the protesters, finally launched a crackdown to clear the roads for traffic in the metropolis. 

The protesters pelted stones at police, torched their six motorcycles and a check post at Numaish Chowrangi, prompting the cops to fire tear gas shells and baton-charge activist of the politico-religious party staging sit-in at the Numaish Chowrangi on MA Jinnah Road.

Police also demolished central sit-in camp of the MWM established at Numaish Chowrangi. The law enforcers also took several protesters into custody and shifted them to the police station.

Taking swift notice of the incident, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said that nobody would be allowed to damage public and private property under any circumstances.

Legal action will be taken against those who set vehicles ablaze, vowed the chief minister. He said: “Everyone has the right to protest but damaging civil property is mischief.”

The prolonged protests were not only damaging the country’s economy but  disrupting daily life in the metropolis as people were unable to travel freely.

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.

Earlier, 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.

The Sindh CM, while 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, he noted that it is not possible for him to give a definitive answer right now as various sit-ins have different organisers.

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.