Roads in Karachi, Islamabad, Pindi largely cleared of protesters

Roads within as well those connecting different cities, which had been closed by the activists of a religious party following the arrest of their chief, were opened for traffic early Wednesday morning, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

In Karachi’s Baldia Town, Hub River Road was opened for traffic. 

According to the traffic police, nowhere in the provincial capital the flow of traffic is affected now.   

Similarly, in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad where several roads were closed until early Wednesday morning were later cleared of protesters. 

However, activists of the religious outfit can still be seen roaming freely on some of the cities’ roads. Murree Road is still blocked at Faizabad. 

Rangers personnel have taken positions around the Liaquat Bagh Chowk in Rawalpindi; the venue of the planned sit-in by the protesters.  

The jawans of police and Rangers would jointly conduct an operation in the area shortly to disperse the protestors.    

However, roads within the twin cities are partially open. 

Meanwhile, traffic flow has been completely restored on GT Road following police used tear gas and baton-charged activists of a religious party two days ago.  

Now Kamonke city police are busy raiding different areas to take the protestors into custody. 

Police have registered cases against around 500 workers of the party. Fearing police action, the workers as well as the local leadership of the party have gone into a hiding. 

However, it appears that people of Lahore will have to wait a little longer for a respite from these people who have brought life to a standstill in the name of religion.  

According to reports, traffic is still blocked at eight different points in the city. 

Two policemen and five other people were killed in violent protests, led by a religious party in Lahore and Karachi, on Tuesday. 

Those killed in Karachi were identified as Tariq, Imran, Saleemullah and Akmal. Youngster Taha was killed on the first day of violent protests in Karachi. 

In Lahore, constables Ali Imran and Muhammad Afzal died after they came under mob attacks involving activists of a religious group. According to the figures released by the Punjab Police, 97 police officers and personnel were injured in the attacks carried out by activists of the religious group calling for expulsion of the French ambassador from Pakistan over his country’s alleged support to people linked to blasphemy. According to the police, two of the injured policemen were deputy superintendents of police, five inspectors, six sub-inspectors, six assistant sub-inspectors, 12 head constables and 66 constables. 

Reporters Danyal Syed, Sagheer Chaudhry