Clampdown puts brakes on PTI protests

The city saw a day of protest, arrests and confrontation on Sunday as police cracked down on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers attempting to stage demonstrations for the release of party founder Imran Khan, detaining more than 75 leaders and activists across Karachi. PTI workers attempted to gather at several locations, including Korangi, Empress Market, Sohrab Goth, Ancholi and Banaras, but police were deployed in advance at key points and detained protesters, including women, before taking them to different police stations. The two sides engaged in a cat-and-mouse game at several locations as protesters repeatedly attempted to regroup. The crackdown also affected access to the Karachi Press Club, with roads around the premises blocked with barricades in anticipation of the protests, causing difficulties for journalists and residents in the area. PTI Sindh spokesperson Mohammad Ali Baloch claimed that more than 75 party leaders and workers had been arrested across the city, including PTI Women's Wing president Sareena Adnan and District South president Sheeba Altaf Qadri, along with several other women activists. According to Baloch, protests were held in Korangi, Saddar/Empress Market and several districts of the city under the leadership of PTI Karachi Division president Faheem Khan. Sindh PTI additional general secretary Rizwan Niazi and Sindh Assembly member Owais Chaudhry also participated in the Korangi protest. PTI leaders strongly condemned the arrests and demanded the immediate release of the detained workers. Faheem Khan accused the Sindh government and police of suppressing the party's democratic and constitutional rights, saying the arrests would not force PTI workers to abandon their peaceful movement. Baloch also condemned the closure of roads around the Karachi Press Club, describing it as a restriction on freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly. He said the party would continue its protests until Imran Khan's release. The police, however, confirmed that several PTI leaders and workers had been taken into custody and said legal action would be taken against them in accordance with the law. Despite pockets of tension and the police action, the overall law-and-order situation in Karachi remained under control and routine life continued largely unaffected.