Things got pretty intense across Pakistan on Monday. After news broke about the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli attacks, protests erupted in cities across the country and the situation on the ground got difficult very quickly. Ten people lost their lives in Karachi and two in Islamabad as the unrest spread, with law enforcement using teargas and baton charges to try and control the crowds. Section 144 was extended across Sindh as authorities tried to get a handle on what was turning into a very serious situation. For a lot of people in these cities, Monday morning started like any other and then very quickly did not.
In Karachi, the Traffic Police started issuing road closure alerts from early in the morning. The first one came out at 8:51am covering both sides of the road from Sultanabad Traffic Section toward Mai Kolachi, along with MT Khan Road in both directions, from Jinnah Bridge toward PIDC and back. Traffic coming from Jinnah Bridge was being redirected toward II Chundrigar Road. Vehicles coming from Boat Basin were being turned around at Mai Kolachi phatak and sent back, and traffic from PIDC was being turned back from Park Cut. For anyone who has driven in Karachi during a normal day, you already know how bad the traffic gets. Now imagine that with half the major roads shut down and protests happening at the same time. It was a mess.
A second alert followed at around 9:48am, adding Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed Road to the closures, specifically from PIDC Chowk toward the State Life Building in both directions. Alternate routes were set up to keep some traffic moving. Vehicles from State Life were being sent toward Beaumont Plaza and traffic from PIDC was directed toward Club Road. All the closure alerts officially listed security as the reason, which was pretty much the only reason anyone needed to hear to understand what was going on. Traffic police were out in numbers trying to manage the flow and keep things from getting worse. Anyone needing help or looking for alternate routes was directed to call the Traffic Helpline at 1915 or tune into FM 88.6 for live updates throughout the day.
Up in Islamabad the situation was just as tightly controlled. Police locked down almost all entry points into the Red Zone, keeping only two routes open, Margalla Road and the road via Islamabad Marriott Hotel. Every other route into the Red Zone was shut and people were told to plan their travel around that. Those coming from Club Road were advised to use Kashmir Chowk, Srinagar Highway, Seventh Avenue, and Margalla Road to get where they needed to go. People traveling from Bhara Kahu were given a similar alternative through Kashmir Chowk and Srinagar Highway. The Islamabad Traffic Police were broadcasting live updates on ITP FM 92.4 throughout the day and directing anyone who needed guidance to call 15 or 1915.
Honestly most people in both cities just stayed home on Monday and nobody blamed them for it. Roads blocked, protests on the streets, Section 144 in effect, it just was not worth stepping outside unless you really had to. Where things go from here is anyone’s guess. A lot depends on what happens next in the region and right now that situation is changing by the hour. People are just watching and waiting at this point.
