Police detain JI leaders, GDA workers over protests in Karachi

JI spokesperson terms arrests 'state repression', GDA terms it an attempt to suppress democratic voices

KARACHI:

Leaders of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) faced police action in Karachi ahead of planned press conferences against alleged rigging in the February 8 2024 elections, with more than two dozen GDA workers and over eight JI leaders and activists, including Karachi acting ameer Muslim Parvez and MPA Muhammad Farooq detained.

According to a JI spokesperson, the party had announced a press conference outside the provincial election watchdog to protest alleged rigging in the February 8, 2024 general elections. However, when party leaders and workers reached the venue, police had already placed barricades on surrounding roads and deployed a heavy contingent outside the office.

گرفتاریاں اور آیف آئی آرز جماعت اسلامی کا راستہ نہیں روک سکتے
مسلم پرویز قائم مقام امیر جماعت اسلامی کراچی#14Feb_Dharna_toHoga pic.twitter.com/RAuzDNHzJl

— Jamaat e Islami Karachi (@KarachiJamaat) February 8, 2026

The spokesperson alleged that police dismantled the camp set up for the press conference and confiscated the tent, sound system and generator. He claimed that as soon as the press conference began, police launched a crackdown and took more than eight leaders and workers into custody.

Those detained included Muslim Parvez, former MPA Younus Barai, Sindh Assembly member Muhammad Farooq, district leaders Sufyan Dilawar and Mudassir Hussain Ansari, as well as workers Anas Khan, Ibtisam Abrat, Abdul Hameed, Khalid Qureshi and Muhammad Amjad, among others.

The detainees were shifted to a nearby police station in police mobiles and a prison van. Party workers raised slogans at the time of their detention.

SSP South Mahzoor Ali said Section 144 had been imposed across the district, banning gatherings of more than four persons. He said JI members had assembled outside the Election Commission office for a protest in violation of the restrictions. "Whoever violates Section 144 will face legal action," he added.

جماعت اسلامی کی جانب سے 8فروری انتخابی دھاندلی کے 2 سال مکمل ہونے پر الیکشن کمیشن سندھ کے آفس کے باہر عوامی پریس کانفرنس کے دوران قائم مقام امیر جماعت اسلامی کراچی مسلم پرویز, رکن سندھ اسمبلی محمد فاروق سمیت دیگر زمہ داران کو گرفتار کرلیا گیا۔#14Feb_Dharna_toHoga pic.twitter.com/PSbIWFEk8Y

— Jamaat e Islami Karachi (@KarachiJamaat) February 8, 2026

The JI spokesperson termed the arrests "state repression" and said peaceful protest was the party's democratic right. He announced that the party would hold a sit-in outside the Sindh Assembly on February 14 "at all costs."

Meanwhile, Sindh General Secretary of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) and GDA Information Secretary Sardar Abdul Rahim condemned the action, terming it an attempt to suppress democratic voices.

He demanded the immediate release of the detained workers and urged the administration to refrain from what he described as “underhanded tactics”.

He said a province-wide peaceful day of protest was observed under the banner of the GDA, claiming that large numbers of workers staged demonstrations outside district press clubs from Karachi to Kashmore. Protesters raised slogans against the “bogus elections” and alleged administrative interference.

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Sardar Rahim said the country was passing through a critical phase and held the “fake government” responsible for the prevailing situation. He alleged that the 2024 general elections marked the “darkest chapter” in the country’s political history, claiming that winning candidates were defeated through rigging while defeated candidates were declared winners.

“We do not accept such assemblies under any circumstances,” he said, adding that three GDA members elected to the Sindh Assembly have neither taken oath nor would they do so, as the assemblies do not reflect the true public mandate.

He said the decision to hold protests was taken unanimously at a meeting of the GDA core committee chaired by Pir Sahib Pagara. According to him, the people of Sindh expressed resentment against the current government through peaceful and organised demonstrations.

The GDA leader also expressed concern over what he termed police actions against peaceful protesters, alleging that instead of arresting criminals, cases were being registered against innocent youth.

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He said reports had been received from various districts that police placed obstacles in the way of protesters despite peaceful protest being a constitutional and democratic right.

Separately, Sardar Rahim condemned the suicide blast at an imambargah in Islamabad and expressed condolences over the loss of innocent lives.

Referring to the Gul Plaza tragedy, he termed it a reflection of poor governance in the province, claiming that recurring tragedies pointed to the absence of effective administration.

He reiterated that PML-F and the GDA would continue their struggle through peaceful, democratic and constitutional means and maintained that the people of Sindh would not accept representatives “imposed through Form 47.”