KARACHI: Hours after the police in Islamabad rounded up several workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf (PTI) on Thursday, dozens of PTI supporters took to Sharea Faisal in protest against the federal government`s action, causing severe traffic jam on Karachi`s key road.

The protesters staged a sit-in on the main Nursery bus stop where the PTPs Karachi office, the Insaf House, is located and chanted slogans against the federal government.

The PTI workers reached the partyoffice on motorbikes, cars and other vehicles after the Karachi chapter announced protests against the crackdown in Islamabad. Hundreds of vehicles were stuck on both tracks of Sharea Faisal and traffic police advised the motorists to take alternative routes to reach their destinations.

The situation normalised when police authorities intervened and held talks with the PTI leaders, which led to end of the protest sit-in.

Earlier, PTI`s Karachi president Firdaus Shamim Naqvi said at a hurriedly-called press conference at the party`s office that the use of force by the PML-N government againstpeaceful and innocent women and youths had exposed its autocratic face.

`The brazen baton-charge on women has refreshed the memory of the dictatorial rule,` he said. `Instead of presenting himself for accountability, Nawaz Sharif has been telling lies for the last couple of months to cover up corruption of his family. Let the rulers unleash their oppression, the movement of accountability cannot be stopped.

Demanding immediate release of the party workers in Islamabad, he said any delay could lead to a severe reaction from people across the country.