KARACHI (MNN); Severe traffic congestion was reported across central Karachi on Monday after authorities sealed multiple roads around the Karachi Press Club in anticipation of a planned protest.
Containers were placed on key routes, leading to long lines of vehicles on I.I. Chundrigar Road and adjoining areas. Traffic came to a complete standstill on Dr Ziauddin Road near Zainab Market, as well as at the Arts Council and Sindh Assembly roundabouts, leaving commuters stranded for hours.
Police sources said roads leading to the Governor House and Chief Minister House were also closed as a precautionary measure to prevent demonstrations.
Emergency vehicles, including fire tenders and ambulances, were caught in the gridlock near the main Arts Council intersection, officials confirmed.
Despite traffic being diverted to alternate routes, congestion persisted well into the afternoon, causing widespread disruption for residents and motorists.
Meanwhile, all roads leading to the Karachi Press Club were blocked as lawyers, human rights activists and members of civil society gathered to protest the conviction of advocates Imaan Zainab Hazir-Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chatta.
Roads around Zainab Market and the roundabout near the Arts Council of Pakistan were also sealed.
Activist Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Junior, son of late politician Murtaza Bhutto, staged a sit-in at the Karachi Press Club roundabout after being stopped from reaching the press club. Speaking to the media, he said police were not even allowing protesters to demonstrate on pavements.
“We are being deprived of our fundamental human rights. I want to participate in the protest, but even participation has been turned into a crime,” he said.
Referring to the sentencing of Mazari and Chatta, Bhutto said they were convicted over a single tweet, adding that his father had faced similar police actions in the past.
Renowned activist Sheema Kermani was also among those staging a sit-in at the KPC roundabout.
Lawyer and human rights activist Jibran Nasir said all access roads to the press club had been blocked using containers and parked buses, accusing the state of attempting to deny journalists, lawyers and civil society their right to protest and challenge what he described as a flawed trial and conviction.
Journalist Sameer Mandhro also posted on social media platform X that police had blocked all routes leading to the Karachi Press Club.
He added that the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, journalists, lawyers and civil society activists were protesting against the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and the sentence awarded to Imaan Mazari.
Later, an update from the traffic police confirmed that Deen Muhammad Wafai Road and Sarwar Shaheed Road were closed around 5pm for security reasons. The closures disrupted traffic on I.I. Chundrigar Road, Shaheen Complex Chowk, M.R. Kiyani Chowrangi, Aiwan-i-Sadr Road, Fawwara Chowk, Zainab Market and surrounding areas.
