Roads still blocked as protest enters second day

Despite night-long efforts by law enforcement agencies(LEAs) to clear roads for traffic flow, several major thoroughfares were still blocked as religious groups continued their protest against supreme court verdict to acquit Asia bibi in of blasphemy charges.

In Karachi, traffic has been blocked at nine places owing to the ongoing protests. Star Gate at Shahrah-e-Faisal, Numaish, Liaquatabad No 10, Sohrab Goth, Korangi No 5, Bara Board, Baldia No 4 and New Karachi have been blocked for traffic.

Meanwhile, in Lahore, Charring Cross at Mall Road, Data Darbar and Shahdara Chowk have been blocked.

The Rawalpindi-Islamabad Faizabad Interchange is also blocked.

According to a motorways spokesperson, Pindi Bhattian-Lahore, Pindi Bhattian-Faisalabad and Faisalabad-Gojra motorway are blocked for traffic.

Trains and flights are, however, operating as per schedule.

On Wednesday, following the protests, Section 144 was imposed across Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan barring the gathering of more than four persons in public places as well as pillion riding. Section 144 has been imposed till November 10.

Ghulam Muhamamd, a commuter, said that he was unable to reach his office. “Mobile service is also blocked in I-8 Markaz which left my family paralysed,” he said. It is noted that due to a few hundred protesters, traffic of twin cities was badly affected as both the sides of the Islamabad Expressway, Seventh Avenue, Murree Road, Kashmir Highway, Jinnah Avenue, State Bank Road towards Radio Pakistan roads were blocked for commuters.