Malir residents protest against LEAs for arresting suspects

People blocked roads and demanded the release of detained alleged criminals

KARACHI: Malir City became a battleground on Sunday after residents clashed with the police following the arrest of three suspects by personnel in plainclothes during an overnight operation.

On an intelligence tip-off, the law enforcement agencies raided Salar Goth, a locality of Malir City, on Sunday. Three suspects, who allegedly belonged to the Sohail Dada Group, were arrested during the operation. After their arrests, a large number of residents, including women, gathered on the main National Highway to stage a protest.

According to the police, protesters blocked the main road and pelted vehicles and the police with stones, which resulted in a traffic jam and disturbed the law and order situation in the area. Hundreds of vehicles coming from Quaidabad towards the airport and Sharae Faisal got stuck on the roads, while the situation was the same for traffic coming from Sharae Faisal to Quaidabad.



The protest continued for at least three hours as police officials failed to disperse the protesters through negotiations. The police then resorted to baton charge and aerial firing to stop the protesters. Two women reportedly sustained bullet injuries on their arms and were taken to the hospital by rescue workers.

"An agency arrested some criminals from Salar Goth, which provoked the residents to protest and demand their release," said Malir SHO Abul Khaliq Marwat. The SHO denied that the police fired at the protesters or injured anyone.

According to Malir SSP Rao Anwar, a team of Rangers raided the area and arrested three alleged criminals who were involved in the gang war. The comrades of arrested suspects provoked and encouraged the residents to stage a protest against the law enforcement agencies to pressurise them, he added.