KARACHI: Thousands of motorists and commuters were stuck in a severe traffic jam for hours in the so-called ‘Red Zone’ in the metropolis on Tuesday due to security arrangements that led to blockade of key roads, causing gridlocks on major thoroughfares.

It all began in the afternoon when police authorities blocked some roads after government teachers, who were seeking permanent employment, staged a sit-in outside the Karachi Press Club and announced that they would march on CM House to put pressure on the government.

A large number of protesters, including women, were staging a demonstration claiming that despite being qualified for teaching after passing test conducted by IBA Sukkur, they were not offered teaching jobs.

The announcement of the march pushed the police to block access to Deen Muhammad Wafai Road, Sarwar Shaheed Road, a road connecting PIDC House and Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road by placing containers on the roads that suspended the traffic movement.

The situation worsened when the police expanded the security arrangements in the wake of a reception at Governor House in the honour of Dawoodi Bohra community spiritual leader Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin. The police blocked the vehicular movement on Aiwan-i-Saddar Road and M.R. Kayani Road.

As the evening approached and people started to leave for home after office hours, the commuters were left with a few options to get out of the Red Zone, where the key roads were already closed.

With thousands of vehicles on roads, limited options of exit and pressure on alternative routes, the traffic started piling up on I.I. Chundrigar Road, Abdullah Haroon Road, Hasrat Mohani Road, Burns Road and adjoining Shahrah-i-Liaquat and Saddar areas.

The traffic police spokesman confirmed that the key links were blocked due to security arrangements of both the events — teachers’ protest and the reception at Governor House and added: “Additional deployment of traffic police has been made to guide people to alternative routes.”

After remaining almost frozen for hours, the traffic situation started to ease off half an hour after the sunset and that too following a “notice” taken by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah issuing directives to police authorities for restoration of traffic movement.

“The chief minister while taking notice of traffic jam has issued directives to police authorities to open blocked roads and make effective traffic management,” said a brief statement from CM House.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2024