Security has been tightened in the city to avert any untoward incident as different religio-political parties announced to take out rallies to register their protest against publication of blasphemous caricatures in a French publication.
To avoid any law and order situation, MA.Jinnah, right from Numaish Chowrangi to Taj Medical Complex, has been completely sealed and so are the roads leading towards French Consulate, Governor House and Chief Minister House.
Traffic police officials said alternative arrangements have been made to facilitate motorists and commuters in general. Meanwhile, four political parties are taking out their respective rallies to register a their protest against, what they said, international conspiracy of ridiculing figures sacred for the Muslims and deliberately provoking them and create rift between the Muslims and followers of other religions.
Jamaat-e-Islami started their rally from their office near Mazar-e-Qauid enroute Teen Talwar (round-about), Clifton, while the PTI workers took out their rally from Karachi Press Club to Teen Talwar, Clifton, near the French Consulate.
An ulema council which had initially planned to start their rally from Numaish, through MA Jinnah Road, have rescheduled their route and asked its workers to gather at Tibet Centre. Jamaat Ahle Sunnat has started its rally from Liaqutabad.
Participants of all these rallies while raising slogans against the publisher of the French magazine and the concerned cartoonist also called upon the leaders of Muslim countries to adopt a united and strong stance against the unfortunate and tragic incident that is a cause of extreme distress for Muslims around the world.
Officials representing Karachi administration said the parties concerned had sought prior approval for taking out rallies after required undertaking that no law and order situation would be created and they after registering their protest would disperse peacefully.
It was on the basis of these assurances that along with police the activists of these parties could be witnessed managing and controlling the rallies’ participants, officials pointed out.
