Karachi Sit-ins Continue Amid Failed Talks Over Parachinar Killings
Sit-ins in Karachi: Protests Over Parachinar Killings Intensify
The ongoing sit-ins in Karachi have entered their sixth day, causing significant traffic disruptions across the city. Activists and leaders of the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) have vowed to continue the protests despite failed talks with city authorities and police. The demonstrations are a response to the Parachinar killings, with protesters demanding immediate action, including the reopening of a key road in Parachinar that has been closed for 90 days, preventing access to essential food and medicines.
Failed Talks Fuel Continued Protests Over Parachinar Killings
On Sunday night, Karachi’s Additional Inspector General of Police, Javed Alam Odho, and Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi met with MWM leaders, including Allama Hasan Zafar Naqvi, at Numaish Chowrangi in an attempt to negotiate a resolution. Despite discussions, no agreement was reached, leading Naqvi to announce that the sit-ins would persist. He warned that if the protests spread throughout Sindh, the government would struggle to control the unrest. However, Naqvi emphasized that protesters were leaving lanes open for traffic to ease the chaos on major roads.
Traffic Disruptions Continue as Sit-ins Block Major Roads
The protests, sparked by the brutal killings in Parachinar, have paralyzed traffic across key arteries such as Sharea Faisal, University Road, and Sharea Pakistan. While sit-ins continue, protesters have made some concessions by allowing vehicles to pass through a single lane to reduce the impact on commuters. Karachi’s traffic police have been working to provide alternative routes to help citizens avoid the gridlock.
MWM’s demands include the immediate reopening of roads in Parachinar, action against the killers of passengers traveling in 100 buses, compensation for the victims’ families, and reforms in the local police and administration. As talks have failed, it seems that these protests over the Parachinar killings will continue, keeping the city in a state of tension and disruption.
