KARACHI, Feb 24: The police on Friday stopped protesters from proceeding towards the US Consulate to register their protest against the bombing of shrines in Iraq. A rally taken out by the Shia Action Committee led by Maulana Mirza Yousaf from Numaish reached the Karachi Press Club where speeches were made by different speakers.

Following the speeches, the participants attempted to march towards the US Consulate but they were stopped at the Fountain Chowk by police.

The TPO Saddar told Dawn that the rally participants were told not to proceed toward the Consulate otherwise they would be compelled to use force against them.

Subsequently, rally staged a sit-in at the Fountain Chowk for a short while. Speeches were delivered there condemning the US for what they alleged was its role in the Iraq bombings. The rally dispersed peacefully later on.

The city administration had adopted a strict security plan ahead of the MMA’s protest day on Friday against blasphemous cartoons and the call given by different Shia organizations for protest day against the Iraq bombings.

It was perhaps for the first time that the Karachi police were seen in proper riot gear on the streets ready to take on any eventuality.

The police had blocked the Abdullah Haroon Road since early Friday morning by putting up containers and erecting barbed wires from the State Guest House and Hosung Road intersection.

Resultantly, traffic was diverted to the Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road, which witnessed a heavy load.

A majority of petrol pumps were closed in Saddar area as well in different parts of the city fearing for law and order situation.

A large number of petrol pumps were closed on the Sharea Faisal and Rashid Minhas Road in Gulshan-i-Iqbal.

Long queues at CNG terminals were witnessed at the petrol stations that were open throughout the day.

The Rangers’ mobiles were seen standing guard at many petrol stations functioning on Friday.