KARACHI: The Sindh government has declared a public holiday across the province on Friday, Jumma-tul-Wida, Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah announced in a video statement.
Shah said the holiday was being observed in connection with Friday’s occasion, adding that the provincial administration had also decided to name a major highway in Karachi after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader who was assassinated in a U.S.-Israel strike on February 28. The minister noted that the assassination had triggered a global crisis, leading to oil supply blockades, flight disruptions, and billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide.
The minister further stated that rallies on Shariah Faisal would not be permitted on Friday, urging all organizations to hold their processions along their traditional routes instead. “We cannot allow gatherings on Shariah Faisal due to security and traffic concerns,” he said, stressing that the government’s priority was to maintain order while ensuring citizens could mark the day peacefully.
His remarks followed a security alert by the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad , warning of large-scale religious processions across Pakistan beginning March 10. The advisory cautioned that such gatherings, though often peaceful, “can turn violent,” and highlighted the likelihood of traffic congestion, checkpoints, and even disruptions to mobile and internet services. The Embassy also announced restrictions on the movement of its personnel and suspended consular services in Karachi and Lahore, underscoring the tense atmosphere in major urban centers.
