Police detain Haleem Adil Sheikh, over 20 PTI workers at Karachi Press Club protest

Police detained Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Sindh President, Haleem Adil Sheikh along with more than 20 male and female party leaders and workers on Friday during a protest outside the Karachi Press Club.

PTI had called the demonstration after authorities refused to allow a meeting with the party’s jailed founder, Imran Khan. A heavy police contingent, including a number of female personnel, was deployed around the press club ahead of the protest. Roads in the area were blocked. Buses, minibuses and other transport were diverted to alternate routes.

After Friday prayers, a group of female workers had gathered outside the press club, demanding a meeting with the party founder and former prime minister and calling for his release. They dispersed shortly afterwards. Later, a rally led by Sheikh managed to reach the press club and joined the protest.

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Addressing supporters, Sheikh said the party would continue its demonstrations until a meeting with the PTI founder was allowed. Workers raised slogans as more party workers and supporters also joined.

Police moved in to disperse the protest. Male and female officers detained several protesters, including Sheikh, who was taken into custody along with other leaders and workers and shifted to nearby police stations.Female party members were shifted to the Women Police Station. The surrounding area briefly descended into a confrontation zone as police and protesters engaged in a prolonged cat-and-mouse chase. Once the arrests were completed, police cleared the location and opened the roads.

Speaking to the reporters, PTI MPA Sajid Hussain Mir said, "The party had staged a peaceful protest seeking a meeting with Khan, but police began detaining workers while they were already dispersing." He condemned the arrest of more than 20 leaders and workers, including Sheikh, adding that the party was pursuing legal avenues for their release.

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According to the PTI Sindh spokesperson, protesters were demonstrating against the suspension of meetings with Imran Khan when police 'took action' against peaceful protestors and PTI leaders and detained Sheikh along with many others, including Dawa Khan, Muazzam Khan, Yasir Baloch, Anwar Mehdi, Raza Yasir and more than two dozen workers. Female leaders and workers were also taken into custody.

Sheikh and other senior leaders were shifted to the Preedy police station.

SSP South Manzoor Ali confirmed that several PTI leaders and workers had been detained and said further action would be taken in accordance with the law.

Earlier speaking during the protest, Sheikh had said the entire nation had only one demand — permission to meet Imran Khan. He claimed the protest remained peaceful but 'police attacked the workers'. “We will no longer tolerate this injustice,” he said.

The PTI spokesperson said protests across Sindh would continue against the suspension of meetings with the party founder.