Commuters’ woes: Notices issued on plea against rallies on MA Jinnah Road
Petitioner argues that sit-ins negate basic rights of citizens guaranteed under articles 4, 8 and 9 of Constitution
KARACHI:
The severe traffic gridlocks that result from frequent rallies and protests on MA Jinnah Road have forced an NGO to go to court.
The United Human Rights Commission of Pakistan's general secretary, Rana Faizul Hasan, filed a miscellaneous petition in Sindh High Court (SHC). The bench, headed by Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar, has issued notices to the provincial home secretary and others for a date to be announced by the court later.
People are facing great hardships due to the sit-ins being staged on the city's main artery for the last 20 days, claimed Hasan, adding that the protests held during the last week have badly disrupted the traffic system.
According to Hasan, these sit-ins at Numaish Chowrangi create problems for office-goers while the ambulances carrying patients also get stuck in traffic gridlocks. Such sit-ins may result in death, he said. Hasan, who appeared in person to plead his case, argued that these gatherings negate the basic rights of citizens, which have been guaranteed under the articles 4, 8 and 9 of the Constitution.
He pleaded the court direct the authorities to ensure that MA Jinnah Road, particularly the patch from Numaish Chowrangi, is not allowed to be a venue for rallies. He requested the authorities to direct protesters to use the space inside Nishtar Park instead.
City-wide protests
In his main petition, Rana Faizul Hasan had asked the court to order the authorities stop political parties from holding public meetings on main thoroughfares on national days, such as the birthday anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam and Pakistan Day. The petitioner believed that millions of people living in Karachi face hours-long traffic jams and disruption of law and order. He added that places such as Tower, Regal Chowk and MA Jinnah Road are worst-hit.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2014.
The severe traffic gridlocks that result from frequent rallies and protests on MA Jinnah Road have forced an NGO to go to court.
The United Human Rights Commission of Pakistan's general secretary, Rana Faizul Hasan, filed a miscellaneous petition in Sindh High Court (SHC). The bench, headed by Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar, has issued notices to the provincial home secretary and others for a date to be announced by the court later.
People are facing great hardships due to the sit-ins being staged on the city's main artery for the last 20 days, claimed Hasan, adding that the protests held during the last week have badly disrupted the traffic system.
According to Hasan, these sit-ins at Numaish Chowrangi create problems for office-goers while the ambulances carrying patients also get stuck in traffic gridlocks. Such sit-ins may result in death, he said. Hasan, who appeared in person to plead his case, argued that these gatherings negate the basic rights of citizens, which have been guaranteed under the articles 4, 8 and 9 of the Constitution.
He pleaded the court direct the authorities to ensure that MA Jinnah Road, particularly the patch from Numaish Chowrangi, is not allowed to be a venue for rallies. He requested the authorities to direct protesters to use the space inside Nishtar Park instead.
City-wide protests
In his main petition, Rana Faizul Hasan had asked the court to order the authorities stop political parties from holding public meetings on main thoroughfares on national days, such as the birthday anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam and Pakistan Day. The petitioner believed that millions of people living in Karachi face hours-long traffic jams and disruption of law and order. He added that places such as Tower, Regal Chowk and MA Jinnah Road are worst-hit.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2014.