Opp parties face police wrath in Karachi

PTI, GDA and JI protest against ‘poll rigging’ amid Section 144 imposed in Red Zone for swearing in of MPAs

KARACHI:

The police on Saturday baton-charged and fired tear gas to disperse activists of different opposition political parties protesting in various areas of Karachi against the alleged rigging in the recently held general elections, causing traffic gridlocks on several main thoroughfares as Section 144 was imposed in the Red Zone of the city for the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected members of the Sindh Assembly.

The activists belonging to the PTI, Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), and the JUI-F staged protests across the city, creating massive traffic jams on Sharea Faisal and other major roads.

The GDA activists gathered near the Sindh Assembly were rounded up by the police for violating Section 144 before resorting to baton-charging and using tear gas to disperse them.

Despite the blockades set up by the police, the protesters managed to enter the Red Zone.
The protesters who entered the Red Zone included women, some of whom were rounded up and shifted to the police station.

The participants of the protest continued to chant slogans against the alleged rigging during the elections.
The police stopped the protesters from moving towards the Sindh Assembly.

During the clash, the videos of male and female protesters being arrested and put into police vans went viral on social media.

GDA Information Secretary Sardar Abdul Rahim claimed that over “2,000” party activists had been rounded by the police across Karachi.

Speaking to the media near the Karachi Press Club, he added that the GDA's protest would continue until its demands were met.

Earlier, the DIG South Zone said Section 144 had been imposed by the home department in the Red Zone.

The official added that if there was any protest or loss, the entire responsibility would be on the GDA and leaders of other political parties.

In view of the Sindh Assembly session and the protest of political parties, the road from Urdu Bazaar to the provincial legislature was closed for traffic.

Containers were placed on the road leading from Urdu Bazaar to the Court Road.

Read: Opposition parties unite in Sindh to protest against ‘election fraud’

The road from Arts Council to the Karachi Press Club was also closed by placing containers.

On Sharea Faisal, the heavy contingent of police fired tear gas and baton-charged JUI-F protesters to disperse them and open one of the main arteries of the city.

The JUI-F protesters were heading towards the Karachi Press Club, where a sit-in had been arranged by the party against the alleged poll rigging.

Condemning the incident, JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghori warned that the PPP should resort to only that much cruelty, which it could bear itself in the coming days.

He added that those who were acting pompously after “stealing the votes of the nation” should stay within their limits.

“Today, dictatorial times are being revisited in Karachi. The JUI-F will pay back for its activists’ blood.”

The leaders of the PTI, GDA, and JI later called off their joint protest in Karachi, announcing that they would observe a ‘Black Day’ across Sindh on Feb 27.

They added that all three parties would ensure their participation in the protest.

An alternative route announced by the traffic police read that the commuters should proceed towards Aiwan-e-Sadar, Khajoor Chowk, Fresco Chowk and Regal Chowk with no movement allowed towards Court Road and MR Kayani Chowk.

The traffic police also instructed commuters to avoid unnecessary travel to these areas and to use alternate routes in case of emergency.