Protests erupt after Imran’s arrest

Enraged PTI workers torch vehicles, burn police check posts

KARACHI/HYDERABAD:

A large number of people including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leaders, workers and general public took to the streets against the arrest of former prime minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan from Islamabad High Court premises.

Like other parts of the country, protests erupted across the city. PTI workers staged sit-ins in different areas of the city.

PTI Sindh President Ali Zedi, besides many party workers were arrested during the day. Zedi's car was intercepted by police near the CSD signal before Kala Pull. He was put in a white double-cabin SUV and taken to an unknown location.

Enraged PTI supporters torched many vehicles including two water board trucks, a prison van, and rangers and traffic police posts while also pelting stones on a bus of the People's Bus Service, and deflated its tyres.

Both the tracks of Sharea Faisal near Nursery looked like a battle zone as PTI workers clashed with police, resultantly, all vehicular traffic remained suspended for more than six hours on the main traffic artery of the city.

PTI's main protest was reported at Sohrab Goth near Al Asif Square that closed the main Superhighway.

Police resorted to baton charge, tear gas shelling and also used water cannons to disperse the mob. The police initially failed to control the situation on Sharea Faisal, however, they succeeded to push the protestors to side roads and cleared the Sharea Faisal for traffic. Traffic police diverted the traffic to other routes.

Many people and policemen were injured while the police detained some protestors. Unknown persons burnt tyres and blocked the road while raising slogans in favour of PTI chairman, demanding his immediate release.

In view of the situation, patrolling of police mobiles was intensified and additional force was deployed at various places. However, the situation remained tense especially at Nursery and adjoining areas till late night and PTI workers kept shouting slogans in favour of their party head.

The citizens, stuck in the worst traffic jam, held the administration responsible for not adopting measures to respond to the situation that erupted after the arrest of the PTI chief.

An incident of manhandling a policeman also occurred as a result the cop ran into the side lanes to save his life.

The footage of the incident went viral on social media in which some people were seen thrashing the cop. However, other police officers reached the spot and rescued him from the miscreants.

According to a spokesperson for the Karachi Police, DSP Ejaz Ali, SDPO Mahmoodabad also sustained injuries during the protest near Nursery. The injured police officer was shifted to the hospital.

Protests held from Larkana to Umerkot

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf workers staged protests in several districts of Sindh to condemn the arrest of the party’s chairman, Imran Khan.

From Larkana in north to Umerkot in south, PTI workers took out rallies and staged sit-ins, while many were arrested by the Sindh police.

In some cities, the workers attempted to force traders to shut down markets, but they were met with resistance, and police intervened in a timely manner.

In Hyderabad Cantt, PTI activists brandishing batons forced traders in Resham Bazaar and Chandni Bazaar to shut their shops. However, traders put up resistance and refused to shut markets.

Meanwhile at some places the shopkeepers lowered the shutters on the insistence of protestors, but reopened their shops once they were gone.

Meanwhile, police foiled the PTI workers’ attempt to block the Hyderabad Bypass road, connecting M9 Karachi-Hyderabad motorway with the National Highway. PTI leaders, including Khawand Bux Jahejo, Rehan Rajput, Ali Hingoro, and three women workers, were detained, and the party claimed that dozens of workers had been picked up.

PTI’s Larkana chapter staged a demonstration outside the local press club, with Advocate Ismail Abro leading the protesters in chanting slogans against the National Accountability Bureau and law enforcement agencies. Abro blamed the LEAs for unlawfully arresting Khan and violating the sanctity of the court.

In Nawabshah, a sit-in protest was held at Sheeraz Chowk, and PTI’s local leader, Imam Ali Unar, urged the Supreme Court to take notice of the manner in which Khan had been arrested. Unar warned that their protests would become stronger if Khan was not immediately released. PTI’s workers and supporters also held protests in Sanghar, Dadu, Umerkot, and other districts.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10^th, 2023.