KARACHI: As the federal authorities remained unmoved despite a 70-day hunger strike by the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) leadership in Islamabad against outlawed militant groups, party activists and supporters on Friday took to the streets seeking government attention towards the killing of Shia community members.
Protesting against what they called ‘wrong direction’ of the National Action Plan (NAP), the religious party as part of its countrywide protests staged sit-ins on M.A. Jinnah Road near Numaish Chowrangi, Shahrah-i-Pakistan near Ancholi that links the city with the Superhighway, Malir-15 and Steel Town (the National Highway).
The protesters were baton-charged by police on the National Highway, as blockade of the main arteries triggered traffic jams, causing immense sufferings to commuters.
Speaking to Dawn, the MWM spokesperson said no major action was taken against the banned outfits which even staged rallies on roads.
Before the start of the sit-ins, the party spokesperson appealed to the people to avoid “unnecessary travel” so as save themselves from any inconvenience. He announced that ambulances and the vehicles dealing with emergencies would be given passage during the protest.
“The purpose of the sit-ins was to seek attention of the rulers,” said the MWM leader.
“We adopted the peaceful path of holding a hunger strike for 70 days but the government did not take any notice of it,” he added.
Allama Nasir Abbas observed the hunger strike in Islamabad for 70 days.
As the sit-ins triggered traffic jams on the National Highway near Steel Town, the protesters were baton-charged which invited strong reaction from the party. “Protest is our constitutional right and we would not tolerate the state tyranny,” said the MWM official.
He urged the Sindh government to take its notice as use of force could not deter them from holding peaceful protest.
“If the government adopted the policy of resorting to brute force, we would be compelled to close the whole city of Karachi,” warned MWM leader Allama Mukhtar Imami.
Meanwhile, Karachi traffic police DIG Dr Amir Ahmed Shaikh told Dawn that the blockade of M.A. Jinnah Road, Shahrah-i-Pakistan and the National Highway caused traffic jams.
MQM protests leaders’ arrest
Apart from these sit-ins, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement staged a protest rally outside Karachi Press Club against the detention of their leaders Waseem Akhter and Rauf Siddiqi.
DIG Shaikh said there were apprehensions that the MQM leaders might move towards CM House to lodge their protest but this did not happen this time. With better coordination, he added, they got the road leading towards CM House opened for traffic.
He said a letter had been written to police, city administration and provincial government to persuade the parties to restrict their protest either on the sides of roads or at one designated place in certain areas. He said the protest was a democratic right but lamented that a disturbing trend has emerged recently to block the main arteries to lodge the protest.
DIG Shaikh said it was proposed that such protesters be booked under the anti-terror laws to curb this trend.
Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2016
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