Karachi police arrested over 20 PTI workers and leaders on Friday. They violated Section 144 by holding a rally in Empress Market, Saddar, demanding the release of Imran Khan. Authorities confirmed this, while PTI officials condemned the police action.
Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) also staged a protest in Saddar. They were demonstrating against the death of a party supporter during an October 13 rally. Clashes between the TLP supporters and police left seven officers injured, including a female constable.
What is Section 144?
Section 144 is a law that prohibits gatherings of four or more people in a given area for a limited time. This law was in effect in Saddar when both groups staged their protests. South Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Syed Asad Raza confirmed the arrests. “We have detained 35 workers from both parties, including a religious leader, for violating Section 144,” he said.
Despite the restrictions, PTI members gathered after Friday prayers at Empress Market. DIG Raza stated that the police detained 15 PTI workers, including Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh. PTI, in its statement, called the protest peaceful. They claimed that police responded with excessive force, using tear gas and baton charges. The party further alleged that hundreds of their members, including women, fainted due to the tear gas. PTI leaders Rehan Bandokda, Suleman Kanwal, and Meraj Shah were among those arrested.
Sheikh condemned the police crackdown, stating, “Today’s protest was peaceful, yet authorities used brutal force, especially targeting women. This aggression is unacceptable.” He also expressed concerns over the increasing restrictions on freedoms, referring to the use of tear gas and a media blackout. “The Sindh government is showing its oppressive side, but we will not be deterred. The nation supports Imran Khan,” Sheikh added.
Footage on social media showed tear gas clouds and riot police clashing with PTI supporters in the area.
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TLP’s Clashes with Police
Simultaneously, TLP workers clashed with the police in another part of Saddar. They were protesting the death of a supporter, Majid Rizvi, during a previous rally. TLP spokesperson Rehan Mohammed Khan said the protest also aimed at opposing terror and murder charges against party leaders. He accused the PPP-led Sindh government of high-handedness. “Police fired directly at our workers during the October 13 rally, killing Majid and injuring others,” he stated. The spokesperson warned that TLP would take “extreme action” if their members were not released.
South Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sajid Amir Sadozai said TLP workers gathered at Regal Chowk, burning tires. The police responded with tear gas and baton charges, arresting 15 TLP members. Witnesses alleged that the police fired in the air, but SSP Sadozai denied this claim. He also mentioned that police plan to file charges against the detained TLP workers and leaders.
DIG Raza said that when the police tried to control the situation, protestors attacked them, injuring seven officers, including two SHOs and a female constable. All injured officers received treatment and are stable.
The protests led to the closure of major roads and markets in Saddar, causing heavy traffic congestion.
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