KARACHI: Police baton-charged participants of a pro-judiciary rally held by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) in Karachi and arrested several party leaders and workers on Monday, confirmed a party official.
The arrested include PTI Secretary General Arif Alvi, PTI Spokesperson Asad Umar and President PTI Karachi Ashraf Qureshi.
The security officials also used water cannons to disperse the rally near Zainab Market, injuring many.
Senior PTI leader Arif Alvi tweeted saying he had also been beaten before he was arrested:
Have been arrested after severe beatings
More than a dozen PTI workers were arrested.
Seven people were injured, including a child, who were shifted to a nearby hospital.
Party chief Imran Khan had announced launching a campaign in support of the judiciary on June 16, with all regional PTI offices organising rallies in major cities and districts.
COMMENTS (77)
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Karachi is a very busy city with largest number of cars and professionals found during rush hours on the streets more than anywhere in Pakistan. People are more used to methodical approach than surprises like this. Little lack of care can back-fire and an event that should be promoting a cause become the reason of it's disapproval.
@Abid P Khan: Agreed! these people don't really care about the country, but just about their party and their pockets!
while protest is the right of every citizen, but protesting at the time of rush hour and on the main roads is not at all civilized. being a professional himself, asad umar should have given it a thought. But seems like PTI was way too much engrossed in its publicity to think on common citizens of karachi. Shahrah-e-Faial got blocked and people reached their homes 2 to 3 hrs late.
@Ahmed HM:
"@ Mirza I have been following your posts for the past month now, and all what you do is speak against judiciary. " . Not just the judiciary, a typical PPP bullhorn.
Are you sure the police weren't just in training, practicing so that they can target real thugs? This is just like friendly fire.
Restoration of Judiciary and restoration of a judge and his crony PCO judges are two different things, why are you trying to confuse them Mr.@Sarkar: Maybe you yourself don't know it.
@Mirza: Donations, Aid and Funding is what bring everybody to Karachi. From Taliban funding to Azad Kashmir funding all have to come South for just that purpose. As long as Karachi provides that "Peace" is not in it's destiny.
Bravo Good work by Police of Karachi. They have taught a lesson to these Posh class hooligans. Now they will never dare to come to roads
Heartbreaking to read people like asad umar being treated this way. Shame on us!
Disgusting! What is Pakistan becoming when peaceful protesters are beaten and Mullahs are given the freedom to do whatever they wish
@Mirza: dude please stop commenting! I can believe there are educated people like you in the country who defend these crooks
So far as the police and this whole situation.... SAD! unarmed protesters being beaten up? Just reminds of what happened against African Americans during the 60s when they were protesting for civil rights.. WE SHALL PREVAIL!
As long as the PTI had Army's support and Gen. Pasha was in power, PTI could hold successful Jalsas and Protests. Those days are gone now. Who is going to jump out of the sinking boat first ? Javed Hashmi or Shah Mehmood Qureshi ? Signs of trouble are evident as PTI is not able to hold elections within its own party. PTI became most popular party in just 9 months and may fall in 90 days !!!!!!!
@itp: I love the factors which govern your ideology!
LOL good job guys!!!!
poor asad umar :( , where has he put himself in to
All I have to say is iss mulk mein sirf BHUTTO zinda hai baki jaan khasmaan noon
Sad to know about the people being beaten for protesting on real issues. PTI should take care of any future protest and take all necessary measures to protect its members.
@itp: what a stupid u/gonna stop supporting pti because of the traffice ,what about u/r future what about u/r kids future,i think pakistani do not have paction for freedom or honest leaders,
Great news. The urban PTI supporters will now learn that in Pakistan for the past five decades oppositon politics means 'eating' dandas. Time to stop whining and welcome to the real world!
55 odd comments. Practically, who cares? I was shot twice when I actually did stand up to baton charge in Zia era. You little children, go play in your momma's lap. Otherwise BE PATRIOTIC and TAKE ONE IN THE CHEST, COWARDS!
@Mirza: What planet are you living on? Did you miss the massive jalsa they did on the 25th of December in Karachi? People's ignorance never ceases to amaze me. Good on you, PTI. As a Karachiite, you have our unfettered support.
Days of PPP are over
So PTI finally knows what it's like to be an emerging mainstream party in this country's politics. Revolution laanay ke liye danday to khaanay partay hain yahan. Good on them, they'll come through all this even stronger insha Allah.
PPP government takes care of the people and protects them from these Hooligans. Under dynamic leadership of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto professed through the actions of His Presidency Asif Ali Zardari and Dr. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, public safety is increasing tremendously.
Tsunami reverted with water cannon.
It is great sacrifices of these people that few institutes are taking last breaths otherwise these two parties are trying best to bring Supreme Court and other institution to knees. Nawaz did it openly and Zardari is doing it secretly. Shame on these folks and parties.
shame on PPP
@Iram: You miss the point. A severe reaction by police usually doesn't leave one equipped with their ability to tweet or at the very least, their hands free to do it. "Have been arrested" is in the present tense of the situation. Not afterwards, which is when he'd have the ability.
I don't support PTI but this is sad .... However I wonder how these guys find time to tweet even after being arrested :O
It is Arif Alvi's test, either he is able to incite enough people in Karachi to create some kind of rioting and break down of law situation now or get out of the coveted position he is holding in PTI. Alvi is acting a victim for PTI, this 'wteeting' is a habitual thingy with PTI folks forgeting that when you severely get roughed up by police you are not able to tweet or email. Remember, poor PTI is going through an internal power struggle right now and must somehow survive this or split into many many versions of PTI.
Only 2 parties were against restoration of Judiciary, one was PML-Q and another is based in Karachi.
Why protest? Whole country is supporting CJ so why protest & block traffic & roads? Asad Umar, we did not expect this kind of attitude from you at least! What is the difference between PPP & PML(N) if PTI is going to have same antics. Nothing will change in Pakistan except faces!
Politics and party alignments aside
Baton Charging of Asad Umar; former CEO of Engro; who is recognized by Govt. of Pakistan by conferring Sitar-e-Imtiaze and who is an accomplished business leader, who has contributed by leading new business initiatives and contributed for "Roti Kapra and Makan" for so many instead of just hollow promises.
It is indeed extremely sad how today's in-competent leadership is treating people who have proven record of leading and managing.
Is this democracy? humanity? equality? tolerance?
And on whose behest? Current in-competent lot of rulers with fake degrees, bahata khore, people on payroll of land mafia? Same lot which is afraid of CJ actions against their corruption.
Shame! Shame!
True face of type of democracy PPP really believes in!!!
Protest and rallies are democratic right of any political party, police action is highly condemnable.
@Bilal Shah: Peaceful demonstrations is a right of every citizen in democratic society.
I think the police did the right thing by dispersing the mob.A handful of miscreants cannot be allowed to allowed to block roads and pose inconvenience to the people in the name of a rally.
He is severely beaten and arrested yet he is able to tweet? Must not have been beaten that bad.
God! would that I were a police constable in Karachi!
@ali gilani: Well, unfortunately, we are left to support the least rotten from a basket of rotten figures. And choosing between politicians, army generals and judiciary, i would always support the judiciary, which is still the least corrupt out of them all.
So this is the fate of anyone in Karachi, who comes in favor of judiciary ...
@ Mirza I have been following your posts for the past month now, and all what you do is speak against judiciary.
True professionalism of the Karachi police. Seems they are drunk and can't differentiate between a peaceful protester and extortionist. Just wonder where are we heading as a nation?
@Maher: Imran said 18, Express Tribune is mis-reporting as usual
this may spark the fire which was waiting to be lit....
It was a peaceful rally. I think Karachi police is there only to beat down unarmed people. They are found no where when armed criminals roam free. Cowards!!!
I pray for the health of those batton charged on. Peaceful protests are part of human rights. This is shameful!
pti now felt first taste of 'police lathi' - sadely they are not used to it.
Sad. Don't worry the people of this country will not sit on the sidelines anymore. Change is coming. We will fight against these criminals who are ruling us till the bitter end.
Police has to follow orders in either way. Shame for those who don't like Rule of Law in the country. It is good for everyone if the law prevails in the country dear friends.
@Ali Mehdi: The CJ is weilding respect of people no-more. That's the reality. For Imran to go to streets on CJ's behalf is the kind of hypocracy we can't put up with anymore. and ali mehdi you are much older than 15 to be hypocrite like 30something loosers of Pakistan.
@Ali Mehdi: Well said. Keep it up.
@ishaq: when something happens to PPP you guys say "shaheed shaheed" When it happens to PTI, "nice dhulaai"? Where is your humanity? :(
shame on those police!
highest regards for Mr. Asad Umar, Dr Arif Alvi and for all who took time to participte in the protest.
@itp: sad u judge PTI for Traffic jam. is it ur responsibility to stand and raise voice for injustice. but sori to say u just complain abt traffic jam.
Nice Dhulaai
@meher @itp@ CH Daad @smj Please guys its not fun, the country is in difficult times, the judicial system is in danger, corrution is at its peak, loadshedding, shortage of food items Instead of makinf fun the least you can do is to stop writing against the people who are standing with judiciary. I am 15 years old i dont want to leave Pakistan like most of you, i want to live here with my countrymen whatever the case and conditions will be and i ll cast my vote after 18 to PTI as a contribution during next elections i will make sure that my family will give vote to PTI
to the khi police: ever thought of going after bhata-khor and target killers?
sad sad
@Ali q This goes on to show for whom the polics is working. At least in Karachi. The rest is an open secret.
Report missed that Asad Umar also among those baton charged and arrested. Can you imagine guy of this caliber in any other country treated like that?
@Ch Allah Daad: "Tweeting after beating" this is the spirit PTI leaders possesses.
"If Police beat us, how the revolution will come? "
@itp you are free to go...
Tweeting after severe beating?
i'll withdraw my support from PTI if there is a traffic jam because of this rally!
What courage Karachi police. Peaceful protests are squashed, while killers are allowed to exercise their freedoms.
@Maher It says announced on 16th June.
*Dr. Arif Alvi @ArifAlvi Have been arrested after severe beatings"
Reminds me of the beating of Martin Lawrence in the movie "National Security". Go figure!
launching a campaign from 16 June ?? Today is 18th June dear