KARACHI, Nov 12: Traffic jams were witnessed on various roads, as different rallies were taken out by religious organizations to mark Yaum al-Quds on Friday. Contingents of law enforcement agencies were deployed along procession routes on M.A. Jinnah Road to maintain law and order and avoid any untoward incident.

Reports regarding traffic jams were received from Sharah-i- Quaideen, Shahrah-i-Iraq, Sharea Faisal and other roads leading to it. Effect of the rallies was also felt in Saddar, where a bumper-to-bumper jam was witnessed.

The hardest hit were patients, who were being carried to hospitals, as ambulances also got trapped in the flood of vehicles on Sharea Faisal for hours. The Al-Quds Day was observed here like elsewhere in the Muslim world to highlight the plight of Palestinians who had been the victim of Israeli terror for the last many years.

In this connection, special prayers were offered in all mosques of the city for liberation of Al-Quds. A procession under the auspices of the Imamia Students Organization was taken out from Purani Numaish roundabout which terminated at Regal Chowk after passing through M.A. Jinnah Road. Traffic police had closed the roads for vehicles which caused severe hardships to a number of motorists.

Due to the closure of M.A. Jinnah Road, the traffic proceeding towards Purani Numaish was diverted to Garden and Soldier Bazaar, where the motorists were trapped in the deluge of traffic most of them had to break their fast on roads. Due to the serious traffic muddle, some commuters preferred to walk to their destinations instead of remaining stranded in the jam.

Traffic also remained jam on Abdullah Haroon Road, Metropole Hotel, Sharah-i-Iraq, and other adjoining roads in Saddar. Traffic jams on Abdullah Haroon Road and Zaibunnisa Street have become routine mostly due to irresponsible parking of vehicles.

Traffic police have failed to remove particularly the official cars bearing green registration plates or having marks of armed forces. The drivers of such vehicles usually park their vehicles in 'no-parking zone' causing disruption in the smooth flow of vehicles.

Meanwhile, another rally was taken out from Lasbella Chowk to Binnori town. At its culmination, the rally was addressed by different leaders of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal.

The MMA leaders called for a joint struggle for liberation of Al-Quds. They claimed that the existence of Israel was a constant threat to Muslims' civilization. Many small processions and rallies were also organized at various places in the city on Jumatul Wida (last Friday of Ramazan) to express the solidarity with Palestinians.

Although the traffic police took necessary measures to ensure smooth flow of traffic on Yaum al-Quds in the metropolis. As usual, they failed to ensure smooth flow of vehicular traffic.

As a result of which thousands of motorists and people travelling in public transport were trapped in the deluge of traffic. The mismanagement of the traffic police was evident from the haphazard traffic movement and congestions in various areas.

Due to the rally, traffic from Lasbella Chowk to Gurumandir remained disturbed. Similarly, traffic jam was also seen on Jehangir Road, a track of which was inoperative due to repair work.