Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) shutdown of Karachi kicked off early Friday morning as party supporters block major roads and staged sit-ins at 10 different locations to protest against alleged rigging in 2013 general elections.
PTI chief Imran Khan is scheduled to arrive in Karachi at 2pm and address his supporters around 3pm.
PTI protesters burn tyres to block University Road near Expo Centre.
The PTI activists set tyres on fire in front of Insaf House on Shahra-e-Faisal to block the main artery of the megacity; however, police baton-charged and broke up the protesters and cleared the road for vehicular traffic.
Shara-e-Faisal has been blocked at Star Gate where PTI actvists set tyres on fire. It is worth noting here that there is two-way traffic on a single track of Shahra-e-Faisal.
Roads have been barricaded in different areas of the city including New Karachi Power House, Native Jetty, Landhi, Qayyumabad, Teen Talwaar, Numaish Chowrangi and New Sabzi Mandi, suspending the traffic flow.
Petrol pumps have also been closed in some areas of the city.
The PTI Karachi appealed to the traders to join hands in their protest by keeping their businesses and commercial activities suspended today.
The PTI chief Imran Khan said the roads of the metropolis will be closed for vehicular traffic for the daylong shutdown; however, no one will be forced to pull the shutters down on their businesses.
