KARACHI — Major parts of Karachi witnessed chaos on Monday as supporters of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) took to the streets, blocking key routes and disrupting traffic flow across the city. The demonstrations, marked by stone-pelting and road blockades, left commuters stranded for hours and caused damage to several vehicles.
Witnesses reported that TLP workers gathered in large numbers at Nala Stop and North Karachi’s 4K Chowrangi, where they set up barricades and hurled stones at passing vehicles, sparking panic among motorists. “We were stuck for more than two hours there was no way to move forward,” said one commuter caught in the gridlock.
Police contingents were swiftly deployed to the affected areas to restore order and disperse the protesters. Officers used controlled measures to reopen the roads and ensure the safe movement of traffic.
The unrest came just days after the Sindh government imposed a province-wide ban on all kinds of protests, rallies, and sit-ins under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The restriction effective immediately for one month prohibits gatherings of more than five people in public spaces.
According to official sources, the move was taken on the recommendation of Sindh Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, following intelligence reports suggesting possible disturbances in multiple zones across Karachi.
A government notification stated that any violation of this order would empower the relevant Station House Officer (SHO) to register a case under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
The protests, which appeared to have been organized spontaneously, added further strain to the city’s already congested traffic network. Authorities confirmed that normalcy was gradually restored by evening, though residents expressed frustration over the disruption and recurring law-and-order challenges in Pakistan’s largest city.
