KARACHI: Karachi in the grip of tension, uncertainty
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Oct 8: An atmosphere of fear and uncertainty prevailed in the city on Monday following the start of air strikes on Afghanistan by the United States and Britain.
Police closed several thoroughfares and roads to traffic following protests in different parts of the city, causing problems for motorists. The hardest hit were those living in Defence Housing Authority and Clifton as they were cut off from the rest of the city due to closure of roads.
Incidents of violence were reported from various areas, including Super Highway, former Lighthouse cinema, Bacha Khan Chowk, and other places, where protesters burnt old tyres and put up barriers to block traffic.
Youths gathered on Super Highway in the morning and burnt old tyres blocking the movement of traffic. Police dispersed the protesters, who were shouting slogans against the US and its allies.
Police controlled the situation, removed the barriers and cleared the road.
People also gathered at the Lighthouse area where they raised slogans against the US and its allies. They carried placards inscribed with slogans against the US and its allies. They also criticized the government of Pakistan for providing its airspace to the US to attack Afghanistan.
Protesters burnt old tyres on M. A. Jinnah Road interrupting the flow of traffic. Police resorted to baton charge to disperse the protesters and picked up some youths for breach of peace. Later, traffic resumed on the road.
Similar protests were held at Aath Chowk in Lyari and other places where enraged youths burnt old tyres.
Police closed several roads and thoroughfares, including the routes leading to the US and British consulates and residences of foreign dignitaries, fearing escalation of violence in the city.
Several roads, including Daudpota Road, Abdullah Haroon Road from Metropole Hotel to the Hoshang Chowk traffic signal, Fatima Jinnah Road from Avari Hotel to the PACC, Maulvi Tameezuddin Khan Road at PIDC bridge, etc. were closed after midnight on Sunday for security reasons. The US and British consulates are situated there.
The closure of Daudpota Road from Hotel Mehran to Cantt railway station made access to the railway station impossible, so many passengers who had to catch trains were left with no choice but to give up the idea of travel.
Motorists and people travelling in public transport, proceeding to Clifton, faced hardship in reaching their destinations due to the closure of the roads. People living in Clifton and Defence could not reach the downtown localities.
The shutting off of roads to traffic led to traffic jams on Sharea Faisal where people were stuck up for long in traffic muddle.
“We had to close roads as law and order became volatile following the attack on Afghanistan,” said the DIG Traffic and Highways, Yameen Khan. He said the decision to open the roads would be taken in a day or two after watching the situation.
Police also closed a few roads in Saddar due to rallies and processions organized by different religious parties at Empress Market. Traffic remained disrupted for hours in the evening causing problems for people.
Since morning fear and tension prevailed in the city. People remained glued to television since Sunday night to listen to news of latest developments in Afghanistan. On Monday, attendance in offices and industries was below normal. Fewer private vehicles were on the roads.
KARACHI, Oct 8: An atmosphere of fear and uncertainty prevailed in the city on Monday following the start of air strikes on Afghanistan by the United States and Britain.
