Karachi police chief Javed Alam Odho warned that law enforcement would clear the city’s roads if ongoing protests were not called off by the end of the day, Express News reported.
Speaking to the media, Additional Inspector General (AIG) Karachi said, “Blocking the entire city in the name of protest is unacceptable. Karachi residents are suffering due to these demonstrations. Those who refuse to leave will be removed in accordance with the law.”
Odho noted that negotiations with the protesters continued overnight, with religious leaders also urging demonstrators to keep roads open. He emphasised that paralysing the city’s infrastructure was unfair to its citizens, who have endured significant hardship over the past three days.
The police chief cautioned, “Anyone attempting to block roads or take the law into their own hands will face strict action. We have been lenient so far, but now we have clear instructions to act firmly.”
Demonstrations by a religious group have disrupted major cities, including Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Jhang, Gilgit, and Muzaffarabad. The protests, staged in solidarity with a group over issues in Kurram, have caused severe traffic jams and delays.
In Karachi, sit-ins at Shahrah-e-Faisal, Numaish, and Gulistan-e-Johar have caused significant inconvenience, turning minutes-long commutes into hours-long ordeals.
Earlier, at a separate event, Odho announced strict measures against celebratory aerial firing on New Year’s Eve. He warned that individuals caught engaging in the act would face attempted murder charges.
“Last year, over 38 people were injured due to aerial firing,” he said. “We urge citizens to report violators. Cases will be registered under government prosecution, and we will ensure their bail is denied while also revoking their firearm licences.”
Odho underscored the importance of accountability within the police force, stating, “No officer or official is allowed to exceed their authority. Those who do will face suspension or dismissal.”
Highlighting Karachi’s significance as an economic hub, he lamented the city’s vulnerability to criminal elements. However, he noted an improvement in police performance, reporting a decrease in street crime from 24% to 16% compared to the previous year.
“December has been the best month for performance,” he said, citing a reduction in vehicle thefts and the arrest of over 3,800 motorcycle and car lifters. He added that more than 2,700 cases had been sent to trial, resulting in over 300 convictions due to enhanced investigations.
While acknowledging efforts to reduce crime, Odho admitted, “Achieving zero crime is impossible, but compared to last year, thefts of over 13,000 vehicles and motorcycles were averted, while mobile phone snatching incidents dropped by 8,000.”
