KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: Roads were closed in multiple cities across the country, including in Karachi and Islamabad, for several hours on Friday as nationwide protests were held by religious groups and political parties following US-Israeli attacks on Iran last week and the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
Earlier this week, the Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announced nationwide protests for today against US-Israel attacks. Religious party Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) also put out a call for protests across Sindh today, including in Karachi.
A protest rally was also organised by the religious group Dukhtar-i-Rehbar, which marched from “Khorasan to Karachi’s Imambargah Ali Raza on M.A Jinnah Road,” a press release issued by the organisation said.
During the protests, participants chanted slogans against the US and Israel’s attacks against Iran.
Following the protests, M.A Jinnah Road was opened for traffic, according to a traffic advisory issued at 7:32pm.
The National Highway along the Gulshan Hadid Mor was also opened for traffic at 3:37pm following the conclusion of a rally taken out in support of Iran.
Earlier, the Karachi Traffic Police announced the closure of several key roads across the metropolis ahead of the demonstrations, including MT Khan Road, Mai Kolachi Road, the route from PIDC towards Sultanabad and the M.A Jinnah Road.
Multiple routes leading to Islamabad’s Red Zone closed
Separately, Islamabad police said that Margalla Road and the route via Islamabad Marriott Hotel will remain open for entry into the Red Zone.
In a post on X, police said that “except for these routes, all other entry points to the Red Zone will be closed,” adding that Fazal-e-Haq Road towards China Chowk will also remain closed for traffic. Citizens have been advised to use Jinnah Avenue as an alternative.
Traffic from Polyclinic towards Lal Quarter Chowk will be diverted via Luqman Hakim Road, while Saddar Road has been suggested as another option.
Commuters travelling from G-6 to F-6 can use the China Chowk underpass or the Seventh Avenue to Jinnah Avenue route. Traffic from Abpara Chowk towards Serena Hotel will also be diverted.
Those coming from Club Road or Bara Kahu are advised to follow the route via Kashmir Chowk, Srinagar Highway, Seventh Avenue, and Margalla Road.
The advisory comes ahead of a protest from G-6 to D-Chowk, with all roads leading to D-Chowk also set to remain closed.
For further information, citizens can contact the police helpline on 15 or the Traffic Helpline on 1915. Commuters can also stay updated by tuning in to ITF FM 92.4 for live traffic updates.
The demonstrations come days after 11 people were killed and dozens of others were injured when protesters stormed the US Consulate in Karachi on March 1 to protest the US-Israeli attacks on Iran.
The same day, protesters had also assembled outside the US Consulate in Lahore and attempted to force their way into the building, but police managed to push back the activists.
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