KARACHI - Religious organisations on Monday took out a pro-Mumtaz Qadri protest that created massive traffic jam in the city particularly on the major artery MA Jinnah Road.
The protest was staged on the occasion of Qadri’s Chehlum at Numaish Chowrangi. It was led by the Ittehad-e-Ahle Sunnat, an alliance of several parties representing the Barelvi school of thought.
The alliance comprises the Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (Noorani), Pakistan Sunni Tehreek, Jamaat-e-Ahle Sunnat, Sunni Alliance, Sunni Ittehad Council and others. It was attended by a large number of people.
Talking to The Nation, PST leader Shahid Ghauri said the protest being staged in Karachi was linked to the central protest at Islamabad and it will continue until our demands were not accepted by the federal government. The protest at the main Numaish Chowrangi was continued till the filing of this news.
On the other hand, the protest at MA Jinnah Road caused massive traffic jam and vehicles were stuck for hours. Traffic police said there was gridlock in the city particularly at MA Jinnah Road and other arteries. The traffic personnel were trying their level best to erase the problems of the commuters. Furthermore, strict security measures have been taken by the law enforcement agencies and all the roads leading to the Red Zone have been blocked by placing containers.
It is pertinent to mention here that Mumtaz Qadri, an Elite Force policeman in Taseer’s security protocol, gunned down the former governor on January 4, 2011, in Islamabad’s Kausar Market for his support to a woman accused of blasphemy. Qadri, the self-confessed killer, was executed at Adiala jail.