Traffic Disruption in Karachi as KP CM Rally Concludes Peacefully
Traffic mess in Karachi emerged on Friday as a large rally, led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, traversed the city. While officials confirmed the rally concluded peacefully with no major incidents, it caused significant road congestion during peak hours, impacting daily commuters across several key arteries.
Rally’s Route and Its Impact on Karachi Traffic
The rally commenced following Chief Minister Afridi’s arrival at Jinnah International Airport around 2:00 PM. PTI spokesperson Mohammad Ali Baloch confirmed the CM’s flight from Islamabad was delayed, marking the beginning of his four-day visit to Karachi. The convoy’s movement from the airport towards Insaf House, the party’s head office near Nursery, initially slowed traffic on the National Highway and Sharea Faisal. SindhNews.com reported extensively on the developing situation. Further disruptions occurred as the rally was rerouted via containers near the FTC flyover towards Lucky Star in Saddar, en route to the Karachi Press Club (KPC).
The journey continued, affecting vehicle movement on Shahrah-i-Quaideen towards the M.A. Jinnah mausoleum and subsequently along M.A. Jinnah Road to the KPC, where a press program was held. Later, the Chief Minister’s visit to Ghanchi Para in the Old City area, at the invitation of provincial lawmaker Sajid Ali Soomro, also affected local traffic flow.
Officials Address Traffic Management
Karachi Traffic DIG Pir Mohammad Shah stated that while traffic flow was slowed, it was not entirely blocked. He clarified that sector officers were directed to facilitate the Chief Minister’s rally due to his official status. “Traffic movement was slow, but it was not blocked,” he confirmed. South DIG Syed Asad Raza corroborated that no untoward incident occurred, despite the rally’s impact on roads adjacent to the KPC and in parts of the Old City. Temporary barriers were erected to safeguard the Red Zone, though the rally did not pass through this sensitive area.
The overall outcome was a successful, albeit disruptive, political gathering. Despite the inconveniences to Karachi’s traffic, official sources confirmed the rally’s peaceful conclusion, with only minor scuffles reported among PTI workers at the airport and outside the KPC.