KARACHI: Thousands of vehicles were stranded on the Northern Bypass on Saturday as members of the Transporters Association staged a sit-in protest against Pakistan Customs, blocking the key route for more than 10 hours. The blockade caused long queues of traffic on one of Karachi’s busiest arteries, with commuters stuck for hours.
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The protest erupted after transporters alleged that customs officials smashed the windows of 20–25 vehicles, used abusive language, and resorted to baton charges and firing during an argument. Three to four people were reportedly injured and taken to nearby hospitals, according to the protesters.
Transporters have demanded that an FIR be registered against the customs personnel allegedly involved in the incident. They warned that the sit-in will continue until authorities address their grievances, while no government representatives were reportedly present for negotiations at the time.
This is not the first time transporters have protested against customs actions. In September 2025, a similar demonstration occurred at the Hub Chowki check post on the Quetta-Karachi highway, where vehicles were halted due to alleged harassment and bribe demands by officials. That protest also escalated into clashes involving baton charges and aerial firing before police intervened.
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Authorities have not yet commented on the latest Northern Bypass protest, but the ongoing blockade highlights mounting tensions between transporters and customs authorities over alleged harassment and heavy-handed enforcement.