PTI’s peaceful protest turns violent after police action

KARACHI:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf staged a peaceful protest rally in Korangi No. 1.5, demanding the release of their incarcerated leader Imran Khan.

Prominent PTI leaders, including party’s Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh, Karachi President Raja Azhar, General Secretary Arsalan Khalid, former MNA Faheem Khan, Rizwan Niazi, Wali Mugheri, MPA Wajid Ali, and others, led the rally which was attended by a large number of PTi workers.

The peaceful rally turned violent when a large contingent of police used force against the participants. As a result, several PTI leaders including Raja Azhar, Arsalan Khalid, and Advocate Nasir sustained injuries.

The situation further deteriorated when police arrested PTI MPA Wajid Hussain, Karachi General Secretary Arsalan Khalid, PTI Sindh Additional General Secretary Rizwan Niazi, Haris Mevo, Qadeer Ahmed, and over two dozen other workers, shifting them to an undisclosed location.

Haleem Adil Sheikh condemned the police actions, asserting that peaceful protest is a legal and constitutional right of every Pakistani citizen. He criticised the Sindh government, accusing it of establishing a “civilian dictatorship” under the guise of democracy.

Haleem said that their protest was aimed at securing the release of Imran Khan, whom he described as a “great leader imprisoned on false charges.” He assured that the peaceful movement would continue and that police violence would not demoralise PTI workers.

PTI’s Karachi President Raja Azhar reaffirmed the peaceful nature of the protest and blamed the police for the violence and arrests. He suggested that a third force aimed to incite violence similar to the May 9 incident but maintained that PTI would remain peaceful.

Azhar demanded the immediate release of the unjustly detained PTI workers.