27th Amendment protest blocked outside Karachi Press Club

Section 144 imposed as police break up gathering, detaining nine people; protests also reported in other Sindh cities

The Karachi administration prevented the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain from holding a protest outside the Karachi Press Club against the 27th Constitutional Amendment, enforcing the ban on public gatherings under Section 144. Police detained at least nine people as authorities sealed all routes leading to the press club and diverted traffic to other roads causing chaos in the city centre.

Traders and shoppers in the business and shopping hubs of Zainab Market, Zaibunnissa Street, Abdullah Haroon Road, Empress Market and adjoining areas were caught as innocent bystanders as police chased adamant protesters around one of the busiest areas of the city.

According to officials, Section 144 has been imposed across Karachi, restricting all public gatherings, rallies, and processions. Anticipating TTAP's call for a citywide demonstration, police began blocking roads around the press club from early afternoon. Heavy contingents, including female officers, were deployed at Fawwara Chowk, main KPC entrances, Abdullah Haroon Road, and adjoining streets to ensure no group could assemble.

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Barbed wire, containers and temporary barricades cut off routine movement, prompting a gridlock that extended to II Chundrigar Road, Saddar, Empress Market, and surrounding commercial zones. Motorists remained stranded for hours as police intercepted protestors attempting to reach the protest venue.

Witnesses said TTAP leaders and workers tried to reconvene at multiple points, including Empress Market, Regal Chowk and Rex Centre, but mobile police units dispersed them repeatedly. Several activists were detained and shifted to nearby police stations after brief chases and scuffles.

Traffic remained paralysed across major corridors as officers and protesters engaged in repeated cat-and-mouse rounds throughout the afternoon. Commuters faced long delays, while shopkeepers in Saddar reported declining footfall due to road closures. Traffic flow was restored only late in the evening after demonstrators dispersed.

South SSP Manzoor Ali confirmed that nine individuals were initially taken into custody for violating Section 144. "The situation remained under control throughout the day. Our priority was to prevent any unlawful assembly and ensure public safety," he said.

TTAP calls it a province-wide 'Black Day'

Meanwhile, TTAP issued a statement declaring Friday a 'Black Day' across Sindh in protest against the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which the group alleges undermines the Constitution. Demonstrations were organised outside press clubs and central squares in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Sukkur, Larkana, Umerkot, Ghotki and other districts.

Participants tied black armbands and marched in small processions, chanting slogans against what they called an 'unconstitutional and forceful amendment'.

In Karachi, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, a key participant in the TTAP coalition, had separately announced a protest outside the press club. However, the heavy police deployment prevented assembly, and several of its members were detained.

PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh, Karachi President Raja Azad, General Secretary Arslan Khalid, and representatives from its Women's Wing, Insaf Youth Wing, Insaf Lawyers Forum, Labour Wing and other bodies later gathered at Regal Chowk, where they staged a small demonstration.

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Protesters raised slogans against the 27th Amendment and demanded the immediate release of PTI founder Imran Khan. Police moved in to disperse the crowd and arrested more than two dozen activists, according to PTI leaders.

Addressing supporters, Sheikh said the amendment had 'mutilated the Constitution of Pakistan' and did not reflect public will. "This amendment, imposed by force and without public consent, is unacceptable. Imran Khan must be released immediately," he said.

He also expressed deep concern over the country's economic situation, saying political instability had pushed Pakistan towards inflation, unemployment and financial deterioration. "A government surviving on a stolen mandate cannot bring reforms. Instead of serving the people, it is introducing amendments only to secure itself," he told the gathering.

Condemning what he described as 'police high-handedness', he demanded immediate release of all detained workers. "Peaceful protest is a fundamental and constitutional right. Any attempt to suppress it must be condemned," he said.