Rickshaw drivers protest ban
Rickshaw drivers block key arteries of Karachi - including Fawara Chowk, Abdullah Haroon Road, and Aiwan-e-Saddar - during a protest against restrictions on entering major roads like II Chundrigar and Sharae Faisal. The protest brought traffic to a standstill, leaving commuters stranded for hours. PHOTO: JALAL QURESHI/EXPRESS
Three-seater rickshaw drivers staged a sit-in protest at Fawara Chowk near the Governor House, on Saturday, disrupting traffic for over an hour. The protest was staged against a recent ban imposed on tri-wheelers operating on major arteries, including II Chundrigar Road and Sharae Faisal.
The ban, slapped on April 15 by Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi on a request from DIG Traffic Peer Muhammad Shah, has triggered widespread discontent among rickshaw drivers. Protesters carried banners and placards, expressing demands for the immediate reversal of the ban.
The sit-in led to severe traffic congestion on surrounding roads, including Karachi Press Club, Shaheen Complex, Arts Council Chowk, Sarwar Shaheed Road, and Abdullah Haroon Road. Long queues of vehicles formed, causing inconvenience for commuters, while the Traffic Police struggled to manage the situation and maintain a smooth flow.
Protesters alleged that the Traffic Police were issuing illegal fines to rickshaw drivers. They warned that demonstrations would continue if their demands were not addressed. After negotiations with police officials, the protesters eventually dispersed peacefully, and traffic flow was restored in the affected areas.