Thousands of vehicles were left stranded on the Northern Bypass on Saturday as transporters stage a major sit-in protest against Pakistan Customs. The demonstration blocked the key route for several hours and created long lines of traffic along one of Karachi’s busiest roads.
According to early reports, the protest has continued for more than ten hours. The road remains closed to all types of traffic, causing major inconvenience for commuters. The ongoing agitation is being led by the Transporters Association, which has accused customs officials of misconduct.
The protest began after an alleged clash between transporters and customs personnel. Demonstrators claimed that customs officials smashed the windows of 20 to 25 vehicles during an argument. They also accused the officials of using abusive language, opening fire, and launching baton charges over what they described as a minor issue.
Protesters said that three to four people were injured during the altercation and were taken to hospitals late at night. They have warned that their sit-in will continue until a formal FIR is registered against the officials allegedly involved in the firing and violence. They added that no government representative has reached the spot for talks so far.
Traffic flow on the Northern Bypass has come to a standstill as transporters stage the demonstration without any break. Thousands of commuters have been stuck for hours, with many vehicles unable to move even short distances.
This is not the first time such a protest has taken place. On September 16, 2025, transporters stage a similar demonstration at the Customs check post in Hub Chowki, which disrupted traffic on the Quetta-Karachi highway. During that protest, transporters accused customs staff of harassment and demanding bribes from goods-carrying vehicles instead of acting against smugglers.
Tensions escalated at Hub Chowki when a scuffle broke out. Reports indicated baton charges and aerial firing by customs officials to disperse the crowd. The chaotic situation created panic in the area until police arrived and restored order.
The latest protest underscores the growing rift between transporters and customs authorities, with negotiations yet to begin.
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