Islamabad crackdown: Sit-ins continue in Karachi

KARACHI: Protesters continued the blockade of major city roads on Sunday in support of a religious group camped out at Islamabad’s Faizabad Interchange.

As the federal government has called out army to restore peace in Islamabad after a botched crackdown by security forces to clear the capital’s busy artery of hundreds of protesters of Tehreek Labaik Ya Rasool Allah, protests continued across the country on the second day.

Like other parts of the country, dozens of protesters belonging to the same religious group continued to hold sit-ins at different locations in the metropolis. The areas where sit-ins and demonstrations are being held included Sohrab Goth, Tower, Numaesh Chowrangi, Malir, Orangi, and Safoora Chowrangi.

The effects of police action to disperse the protesters from the capital’s Faizabad Interchange also spilled over to Karachi where protesters took to the streets and held sit-ins at more than 30 different locations on Saturday, causing severe traffic jams.

Business and commercial activities remained partially suspended. Clashes were also witnessed between protesters and police personnel in several areas, including Star Gate, University Road and Nursery.

Police resorted to a baton charge and lobbed teargas shells on stone-throwing protesters to disperse them, resulting in injuries to around 30 protesters.

The areas where sit-ins were witnessed included II Chundrigar Road, Nasir Jump, Teen Talwar, New Karachi, Shafiq Morr, NIPA, Hassan Square, Saddar, Shah Faisal Colony, Hub River road, Super Highway, FTC building.