Noisy protesters irk KPC staff, neighbours
Perwez Abdullah
Karachi: Protesters who come in hundreds every day in front of the Karachi Press Club (KPC) have – apart from irking the government or organisations and individuals against whom the protests are lodged – now become a source of irritation for members and staff of the KPC.
The protesters arrive there in trucks, with loud speakers, and at times leave after beating drums for at least a couple of hours, according to officials. Much to the disappointment of the officials, however, not all of them choose to leave. Some stay there for days, weeks and even for months.
Some protesting groups have encroached upon one side of the road in front of the club by erecting canopies and establishing makeshift stages, creating a traffic chaos on the other side of the road, an artery that is not one of the widest in the city.
The noise in front of the KPC is becoming more disturbing with time, said Moosa Kaleem, secretary of the club. “We are a family of 1,500 members and come here for some rest,” he said, referring to the members and staff of the club. “But the noise from outside (the club) is maddening.” He said that this situation is not letting them perform their professional duties the way they should. Besides, they are unable to organise any programmes in the terrace which remains occupied, he added.
Kaleem believes groups that stay outside the club for a long period of time are in a way denying others their right to record a protest. “We try to cooperate with all the protesters,” he said. “But we can obviously not facilitate a single group for so long.”
Zafar Ahmed, a reporter, said the protesters’ behaviour in front of the club is “a continuous torture”.
“Protesting in an orderly manner is a right to all. But that right should not be usurping the rights of others,” he said.
The journalists, however, are not the only ones disturbed by the chaotic situation outside the KPC. People working at offices nearby and living in the neighbourhood are not appreciative of the beating of drums and the canopies as well.
“The protesters’ behaviour is killing our businesses,” said Umer Farooq, a marketting manager whose office is not far from the club. “Customers don’t enjoy the noise.” He said that the office of an international airline was moved from the area due to the din created by protestors on a daily basis.
A man who lives in the neighbourhood said that the noise disturbs their sleep and comfort. He said that he has been living in the area for decades but protests were never this noisy that they are now. Apart from the noise, protesting members of the KESC employees union had tried to barge into the club a couple of days back. They even beat the club’s security guards.
“It is an unbearable,” Keleem said. “The police are not willing to take any action against the rowdiness of the protestors.”
He said they have tried several times to contact the Sindh chief minister through his coordinators to draw his attention towards the problems they are facing. But, Keleem said, “We are still awaiting a response from him.”
Source: The News
Date:5/6/2011
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