KARACHI: Barriers and barricades placed outside Bilawal House were removed on Wednesday following orders given by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari despite security threats.

The road outside Bilawal House, leading from Bilawal Chowrangi towards Sea View, is now open for traffic.

Earlier, PPP Vice-Chairman Sherry Rehman said “necessary directives have been issued to Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah in this regard."

“Despite security threats, we are removing the barriers in front of Bilawal House, Karachi, on the directives of Asif Ali Zardari,” she added.

Zardari’s statement comes following an operation launched by Rangers, which is backed by police and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, to remove security barriers and barricades mainly in Karachi’s central district.

The road outside Bilawal House was barricaded and blocked for public use after it was accorded the status of former president Asif Zardari's camp office from 2008 to 2013.

Rangers had “appealed” to Karachi citizens last week to remove barriers from their neighbourhoods within three days, as they were hampering movement and mobility of law enforcement agencies.

Following Rangers' appeal, Sindh government had officially requested Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, not to remove security barriers and barricades from outside Bilawal House in Clifton Block 2 and the Zamzama residence of former president Musharraf in lieu of security threats.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf activists had also entered a fracas with PPP workers over removal of the barriers in December 2013.