While passing through Korangi Expressway and on the way to DHA on 12th August, 2006 around 9:30 pm (Saturday night) I got stuck in the worst of traffic jams on Hino Chowrangi. I was with family, including a 3 year old child. I got to know that people had blocked the traffic (both ways) and we were stuck in between with no way to turn back or head forward. The experience was horrible.
To cut a long story short, Qayumabad residents had blocked traffic to protest against KESC power outages. Armed with guns and rocks, they were warning the vehicle owners not to move – “agar jaan pyari hai”. Anyway who switched on their headlights or started their car was a potential victim. People with families, women and children … all were trapped. It was like hell. It sort of reminded me of the situation in Lebonan.
11:00 pm and we were still making no headway. Police and traffic police seemed helpless to resolve the situation till that time. I could see groups of illiterate, frustrated and angry people caring rocks and steel pipes moving through the vehicles and gathering at the blockade spot. I was just 2 or 3 rows of vehicles behind the action. The atmosphere was very tense.
Finally, the last straw… these crazy people started shooting at the high tension cables running over the KESC grid station. Everything happened so suddenly… I started choking, my eyes started stinging, my nose started burning. First I though it was some smoke coming out of the grid station.. but it got so unbearable. It dawned on me… the police had fired tear gas shells. I rushed to close the car windows frantically to stop the burning but a bit too late.
As if by magic, the whole crowd disappeared and there was a moment of hesitation before I stepped on the gas and sped away through the rock strewn road to DHA…. phew.. finally it was over… a horrible experienced.
