Opp slams authorities for arresting workers

Announces observing Feb 27 as ‘Black Day’

KARACHI:

The opposition parties on Saturday lashed out at the authorities for resorting to baton charge and arresting their supporters, terming the move an “ambush on democracy and mandate”, and announced observing Feb 27 as a “Black Day”.

Earlier, in the day, police in Karachi took into custody dozens of workers of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as they entered the high-security Red Zone in violation of Section 144 to protest against the alleged rigging during the Feb 8 general elections.

The opposition parties announced a joint demonstration outside the Sindh Assembly during its inaugural session.
However, due to police action, the protests spread to different areas of the city and severely affected traffic flow on main thoroughfares.

The protestors, carrying placards and banners, chanted slogans against those who allegedly rigged the elections.
JI Karachi chief Engr Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announced that they would vehemently protest the crackdown against JI and its allied parties.

“Jamaat-e-Islami and her allies in resistance against ambush on democracy and mandate will be observing Black Day on February 27 against ‘fascism’ faced by the Grand Democratic Alliance and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf,” he said in a statement.

He noted that the Sindh Assembly building was cordoned off by a heavy contingent of police with access to roads blocked using containers.

He strongly condemned the police action outside the assembly building against women belonging to the GDA.
The JI leader called on those who were within the corridors of power to acknowledge the prevailing circumstances and uphold the electoral mandate.

“Those who won should join the assemblies and those who lost should not be imposed on the people,” he said, adding that a “massive protest is a clear announcement that people will not accept the bogus results”.

Rehman reiterated his demand for the rectification of election results in accordance with Form-45, saying: “Democratic resistance is the way forward for the political parties.”

He asserted that the JI had effectively bridged the urban-rural divide within Sindh.

“The joint struggle [against rigging in polls] will continue,” he said, stressing that all the democratic and constitutional options would be used for the purpose.

Separately, JUI leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri severely condemned the police baton charge and shelling on the opposition parties’ workers.

“The true face of Peoples Party was revealed with the police baton charge and shelling on the peaceful workers of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam,” he said in a statement.

“The PPP wants to take the Sindh government hostage and restrain the JUI workers through hooliganism.”

Meanwhile, GDA Information Secretary Sardar Abdul Rahim earlier said "over 2,000 party workers have been arrested by the police" across Karachi.

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