Commuters in Karachi troubled as Islamabad protest spills over

KARACHI: Commuters were stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on MA Jinnah Road as the protest in Islamabad spilled over to Karachi Saturday evening.

The protesters have staged a sit-in at Numaish Chowrangi, blocking the way to MA Jinnah Road, Garden, and Soldier Bazaar areas of the metropolis.

The road leading from Saddar Parking Plaza to People’s Secretariat was clogged, a commuter on a motorcycle told Geo News that he has been stuck in traffic since 4pm.

Another shared that he has been stuck in the jam for almost three hours.

Responding to the traffic situation, the traffic police advised people to avoid Numaish Chowrangi and instead choose routes leading from Shahrah-e-Faisal and Garden.

According to the traffic police, the jam would continue for another two hours after which the flow of traffic would reduce.

The protesters claimed that they will not move till the demands of the protesters in Islamabad are met.

Two religious parties have been camping at the key route linking Islamabad and Rawalpindi for nearly two weeks in protest against the government's change, and then reversal, of the finality of Prophethood oath for lawmakers when it passed the Elections Act, 2017 last month.

Earlier in the day, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal ordered Islamabad administration to give protesters blocking the Faizabad Interchange 24 more hours to end the sit-in, which has paralysed the city for over 10 days.

The minister said that he wants the protest to end peacefully and without any issue, but added that implementation on the court order to disperse the protesters will be started after 24 hours.

Iqbal also called upon religious leaders and scholars to play their role in helping end the stalemate.

Currently, the government is holding talks with protesters in Islamabad, it is expected that an agreement will be reached soon.