Police round up JI workers after clash

Sit-in against KE for charging high tariffs ended before it could begin

KARACHI: Police on Friday arrested about 20 Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) members, including leaders, after they tried to protest against Karachi Electric on Shahra-e-Faisal.

The JI leadership was released in the evening while the workers are still in Jamshed Quarters police and Brigade police’s custody.

Its unsuccessful sit-in protest was part of a campaign against KE for charging consumers exorbitant tariff.

The police took action against the JI activists as Section 144 was imposed restricting protests or gatherings on the city’s main artery.

District Commissioner, East Zone, Nadeem Abro said, “Strict action will be taken against those who violate the law.”

In a first the police arrested three workers for setting up a JI camp at Sharae Faisal.

PHOTO: YUSRA SALIM

The irked JI Karachi chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, through a video statement, called all the workers for the sit-in.

Then heavy contingent of police force was deployed at JI’s headquarters Idara Noor-e-Haq completely blocking the flow of traffic to and from the location.

Nevertheless, Rehman told workers to walk towards the main location of the sit-in (Sharae Faisal, Nursery).

“We will start walking in a group from the headquarters to Shahra-e-Faisal and hold our sit-in wherever we are stopped by the officials,” Rehman said.

As soon as they left the premises, the already alert police force intercepted them and a clash ensued.

“We could not have let them sabotage the peace of the city as blocking Sharae Faisal would have created a lot of trouble for the common man,” said a cop.

It ended with JI workers and leaders being bundled into police vans and mobiles while chanting slogans against the KE, government and police.

PHOTO: YUSRA SALIM



Later, JI activists took to the streets in protest against the arrests outside their headquarters and Shahra-e-Faisal.

They had also tried to take a truck carrying party flags and banners on which KE’s bills were printed, out on the road but the police punctured its tyre.

The activists started chanting slogans and clashed with the police.

Police resorted to aerial firing and tear gas to disperse the protesters.

The traffic on the main arteries adjoining Shahra-e-Faisal was paralysed while long traffic jams were witnessed on Shaheed-e-Millat Expressway.

Later, Rehman, vice chief Osama Razi, deputy chief Asadullah Bhutto and information secretary Zahid Askari were released.

As soon as Rehman was released he held a press conference.

“We will not back down but continue our fight against KE,” Rehman said at the JI headquarters.

A meeting held at the Idara Noor e Haq decided that the sit-in will be held at the KE head office on April 7 at 11am.

“We will protest at their office now and no one can stop us from asking what constitutes our right,” he said.

The JI had held 50 protests across the city a week earlier against the KE for charging excessive high tariffs.

It demanded to lower its charges in line with NEPRA, which had recently reduced its base tariff by Rs3.5 to Rs12.07 per unit.

In a late night development it was learnt that JI has called for a citywide Youm-e-Ehtijaj today (Saturday).