Protests and Road Closures in Karachi: Outrage Against Lawyers' Convictions

Traffic in Karachi faced severe disruptions as demonstrators protested the conviction of human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha. Roads around the Karachi Press Club were blocked, sparking criticism from journalists and activists who viewed the actions as an assault on democratic freedoms.

In an escalating conflict over the recent conviction of two prominent human rights lawyers in Pakistan, several roads in Karachi were left impassable when demonstrators took to the streets on Monday. The protests, organized by lawyers and civil society activists, aimed to challenge the sentencing of Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha, which many believe to be unjust.

Authorities resorted to blocking major thoroughfares leading to the Karachi Press Club (KPC) using containers and parked buses, causing widespread inconvenience and sparking outrage. Among those prevented from accessing the KPC was activist Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Junior, who condemned the restrictions as a direct violation of constitutional freedoms.

KPC President Fazil Jamili criticized the police actions as a 'blatant assault on democratic freedoms,' asserting that preventing peaceful assembly infringes on fundamental rights. The sit-in protest, held at the KPC Roundabout, reflected wider dissatisfaction, drawing attention from various sectors including lawyers, journalists, and rights groups.

The disruption continued for several hours, affecting areas near Zainab Market and Arts Council of Pakistan, before the roads were reopened. Following a sit-in, protesters were eventually permitted to gather at the KPC, underlining the strained relations between the state and civil society concerning issues of free speech and justice. Amnesty International has weighed in, denouncing the lack of due process in what they describe as retaliatory legal action.