Week-long power suspension triggers protest, paralyses traffic in Karachi

KARACHI: Residents of Railway Colony held a protest near Shaheen Complex against an extended electricity outage, triggering heavy traffic congestion in nearby areas.

The demonstration was staged after electricity remained unavailable for several days. Residents, including women and children, came out onto the roads and blocked routes near Shaheen Complex in protest over the prolonged suspension of power supply.

The road blockade caused a major traffic jam at Shaheen Complex Chowk, where long lines of vehicles were seen building up. Traffic movement on important arteries, including I I Chundrigar Road and Dr Ziauddin Road, was badly disrupted as the protest continued.

Protesters said electricity had been out for nearly a week despite intense heat, creating serious difficulties in daily life. They said repeated complaints had been made to the relevant authorities, but no action had followed, leaving them with no option but to take to the streets.

The residents also warned that the protest would continue until electricity supply was restored.

Police and traffic response

In response to the situation, a heavy contingent of traffic police was deployed to control congestion and divert vehicles to alternative routes. Police personnel also reached the site and began talks with the protesters.

During the negotiations, police assured the demonstrators that electricity would be restored soon. Following those assurances, the protesters ended the demonstration and dispersed from the area.

After the protest concluded, traffic flow at Shaheen Complex gradually returned to normal.

The protest highlighted the difficulties faced by residents of Railway Colony during the prolonged outage, particularly as the disruption continued through hot weather conditions and affected routine life in the locality.

The demonstration also had a wider impact beyond the colony itself, as congestion spread across surrounding roads in one of Karachi’s busy commercial zones before police and traffic authorities managed the situation and reopened movement.

Residents had maintained that their action was prompted by the lack of response to earlier complaints. The protest remained focused on the restoration of electricity, and it ended after police gave assurances that the supply issue would be addressed soon.