Police detained multiple Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers at Karachi’s Numaish Chowrangi on Sunday after clashes erupted near Bagh-e-Jinnah ahead of the party’s public gathering.
The police officials said that more than 30 workers were taken into custody after the clashes, during which protesters allegedly beat up a policeman.
According to the police, the detained PTI workers were shifted into a prisoners’ van following their arrest at the intersection. Footage circulating on the internet shows protesters stopping a police vehicle and pelting it with stones near Bagh-e-Jinnah.
Police resorted to shelling to disperse PTI workers who had gathered in the area, while separate disturbances were also reported at the VIP gate of Mazar-e-Quaid, where scuffles broke out between protesters and law enforcement.
Police officials said that further action would be taken against those identified in the stone-pelting incidents.
The PTI is scheduled to hold a power show at Bagh-e-Jinnah this evening after obtaining a non-objection certificate (NOC) from the Sindh government.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had announced the “historic” public gathering during his ongoing three-day visit to Sindh.
In a statement on Saturday, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said the NOC for the gathering had been issued with specific conditions, stressing that the organisers would bear full responsibility for maintaining law and order during the event.
He said speeches against the country and state institutions would not be allowed, while the use of provocative language, objectionable material or sectarian remarks was strictly prohibited.
At the time, the KP CM was on a visit to Hyderabad and scheduled to return to Karachi, where he had landed on January 9 to kickstart his three-day visit.
While CM Afridi’s first two days in the province passed smoothly, he alleged earlier today that the provincial government blocked roads and created obstacles during his return journey from Hyderabad to Karachi.
“We were deliberately pushed onto deserted roads on our way back from Hyderabad to Karachi,” CM Afridi said in a video statement, adding that he has reached the port city and that “a rally will [surely] be held”.
Meanwhile, a PTI spokesperson stated that CM Afridi has departed for the public gathering, accompanied by senior party leaders.
According to the spokesperson, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja and PTI Sindh president Haleem Adil Sheikh are also part of the delegation, along with other party leaders.
The spokesperson said the rally would proceed through different routes of Karachi before culminating at the Bagh-e-Jinnah ground.
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The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced holding a public gathering at Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi on January 11 as part of its street movement ahead of the Feb 8 protest call, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said in a statement on Friday.
“I will hold a rally at Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi at 4:30pm on Sunday,” said CM Afridi in a message ahead of his Sindh visit set to commence today.
The KP chief minister said he will spread the message of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan to every nook and corner of Sindh.
He also urged the people of Sindh to extend all-out support to the PTI in the preparations of street movement. “We will hold largest rally in Karachi’s history,” CM Afridi said.
However, contrary to the KP CM’s announcement, the district administration has said that no permission has been given to the PTI yet to hold a public rally.
Permission to hold a rally will be granted after security clearance is received, added the administration.
Meanwhile, KP CM’s aide on information, Shafi Jan said that CM Afridi will also meet Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah on Monday (January 12), and will also hold meetings with party leadership at the Insaf House, followed by a visit to the press club during his stay in Sindh.
“A big rally will be held at the Mazar-e-Quaid on January 11. [KP] CM’s visit to Sindh is important to further accelerate the street movement,” Jan remarked.
The powershow announcement came as the PTI has requested permission for holding a public meeting in District East of Karachi, reported The News.
On Tuesday, Karachi Region PTI President Raja Azhar sent a letter to the deputy commissioner of District East, seeking permission for organising a public gathering at Bagh-e-Jinnah near the Quaid-e-Azam’s mausoleum, assuring that the rally would be peaceful and the code of conduct would be fully observed.
The former ruling party is part of the opposition alliance Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen-Pakistan (TTAP), which has called for street mobilisation linked to the second anniversary of the February 8, 2024, elections.
A day earlier, TTAP leaders Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Vice Chairman Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas reached Lahore on a three-day visit to attend political activities in relation to the street movement.
Expanding on KP CM’s Sindh visit, Jan said that CM Afridi will visit prison facilities in Karachi’s District South, Korangi and Malir to meet inmates.
CM Afridi will also travel to Hyderabad on Saturday (tomorrow) and will meet address the Hyderabad Bar and press club and will further attend ISF Convention, party cabinet on the same day.
Jan added that apart from meeting Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM), the KP CM will also address the Sindh High Court Bar on Monday, and will leave for Peshawar on the same day.
CM Afridi ‘s visit to Sindh follows his early visit to Punjab, which was marred by controversy surrounding the ruckus at the Punjab Assembly where the authorities claimed that unrelated and convicted individuals entered the premises alongside him.
Whereas Afridi, on the other hand, voiced serious concern over the chaos and lodged a protest with Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz over the alleged ill-treatment.
