Karachi continues to face heavy traffic congestion as protests against the Parachinar killings persist. Sit-ins, organized by the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM), have spread across the country, with Karachi’s traffic severely impacted. The protests began on December 20 in Parachinar, Kurram district, where residents staged a sit-in to demand better law and order and the reopening of roads.
The demonstrations started after an incident in which two people were killed and decapitated while traveling to Parachinar. Since then, protests have escalated, with Karachi experiencing its fifth consecutive day of disruptions. Key roads across the city remain blocked, causing massive traffic delays in all seven districts.
By Friday night, the protests had expanded to 12 locations. Another protest point was added on Saturday. The sit-ins are taking place on M.A. Jinnah Road, Abul Hasan Ispahani Road, Five Star Chowrangi, University Road, Sharea Faisal, and other busy routes.
While some roads, like the one from Kala Chapra on Sharea Faisal, have been reopened, the situation remains chaotic. The Karachi Traffic Police have diverted vehicles to alternative routes, but long traffic queues persist, causing significant delays.
Meanwhile, protests have also been held in Lahore and Rawalpindi. In Lahore, MWM leaders have been protesting outside the Press Club. In Rawalpindi, the Tehreek-i-Nifaz-i-Fiqh-i-Jafariya (TNFJ) held a rally to condemn the ongoing violence in Kurram.
The unrest in Kurram stems from longstanding tribal disputes. Deadly clashes erupted last month following an attack on a convoy, resulting in the deaths of 52 passengers. Since then, tribal violence has claimed over 130 lives. The region is also facing food and medicine shortages, with many children dying due to lack of resources. The KP government has evacuated 613 individuals by helicopter.
