Several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and supporters, including the party’s Sindh chapter General Secretary Dr Masroor Sial, were arrested following a protest near Fawara Chowk on Abdullah Haroon Road in Karachi on Wednesday.
Clashes between police and PTI supporters erupted when the latter gathered near Fawara Chowk to stage a protest seeking the release of their incarcerated leader Imran Khan.
Khan, who has been in jail since August 2023, faces multiple cases ranging from corruption to terrorism since his ouster from power via the opposition’s no-trust motion in April 2022. The former ruling party organised countrywide protests on Wednesday to mark three years since the imprisonment of the party founder and demand his release.
Karachi police baton-charged PTI protesters and fired tear gas shells to disperse them at Fawara Chowk. PTI activists, meanwhile, pelted police with stones. Following the clashes, a severe traffic jam was reported around Governor House, Metropole Hotel and Shaheen Complex in Karachi, causing major disruption for commuters.
Meanwhile, shops in the surrounding areas remained closed, adding to the inconvenience faced by citizens.
CM takes notice
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has taken notice of the severe traffic jam in several parts of Karachi and directed the inspector general police and the additional inspector general to ensure the immediate restoration of the traffic flow.
The chief minister also ordered the deployment of additional traffic police personnel on the key arteries of the port city, read a statement issued by his spokesperson.
CM Murad further directed the DIG traffic to personally monitor the situation in the field, stressing that the smooth flow of traffic must be ensured under all circumstances.
Lanjar orders steps
Taking serious notice of persistent traffic congestion in different parts of Karachi, Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar on Wednesday directed the traffic police and district police to take immediate and coordinated measures to restore the smooth flow of traffic and minimize inconvenience to commuters.
He sought a detailed report from the DIG traffic Karachi on the prevailing traffic situation across the city. He directed the traffic police to explain the reasons behind the disruption of traffic flow on major roads, highways and other busy areas.
Expressing concern over the hardships faced by citizens due to prolonged traffic congestion, the home minister instructed the authorities to take immediate steps to remove bottlenecks and ensure that roads and highways were cleared without delay. He emphasised that uninterrupted traffic flow should remain the top priority and that every possible effort must be made to reduce the difficulties experienced by motorists and commuters.
Lanjar also directed the district police to extend full cooperation to the traffic police in clearing roads and managing traffic during peak hours and emergency situations. He said coordinated efforts between law enforcement agencies would help improve traffic management and facilitate the smooth movement of vehicles across the city.
The home minister ordered traffic police officers and personnel to remain deployed at major highways, intersections and identified traffic congestion points to effectively regulate the flow of vehicles. He further instructed that additional traffic personnel be deployed at locations experiencing heavy congestion to improve traffic management.
To minimise inconvenience to the public, Lanjar directed officials to immediately arrange and activate alternative routes whenever traffic flow was disrupted. He also stressed the importance of issuing timely traffic advisories and informing citizens about diversions and alternate routes so that commuters could avoid congested areas.
He further instructed the authorities to continuously monitor the city’s traffic situation and respond promptly to any disruption affecting the movement of vehicles. He said effective traffic management, rapid response and close coordination among all relevant departments were essential to ensuring smooth traffic flow.
PTI’s black day
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sindh observed a black day across the province to mark the completion of three years since the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan.
The PTI leadership led by its Sindh president Haleem Adil Sheikh took out a rally in Saddar and try to reach the Karachi Press Club; however, the the administration sealed the roads leading to the press club by placing containers. PTI workers later held a peaceful demonstration near Zaib-un-Nisa Street and Fawara Chowk in Saddar. The party alleged that police resorted to tear gas shelling and baton charge against peaceful protesters, leaving several workers injured.
According to PTI Sindh, police arrested more than ten workers, including PTI Sindh General Secretary Dr Masroor Sial, in Karachi. The party further claimed that six PTI workers were arrested in Pano Aqil and fifteen workers in Kandhkot, where cases were also registered against them.
Addressing the protesters, Haleem Adil Sheikh said the people of Sindh had once again demonstrated by coming out onto the streets that they stand firmly with Imran Khan.
He demanded the immediate release of Dr Masroor Sial and all detained workers in Karachi, Pano Aqil and Kandhkot, saying that dictatorship had been imposed in Sindh under the guise of democracy and that the constitutional voice of the people was being suppressed through state force.
He said Imran Khan had been unjustly imprisoned three years ago and governments were subsequently formed on what he termed a “fake mandate”, pushing Pakistan into severe political, economic and constitutional crises. He added that inflation, unemployment and poverty had made life unbearable for the common people, while businesses, agriculture and industry had reached the brink of collapse.
Sheikh said the only way to steer the country out of its current crises was the immediate release of Imran Khan and all political prisoners, followed by free, fair and transparent elections so that genuine public representatives could address the country’s challenges.
He further alleged that governments had been imposed upon the nation through what PTI describes as the “Form-47 mandate”, adding that even ministers of the present government had admitted that the country’s governance system had collapsed. He accused the rulers of sacrificing national interests for their personal gains. Speaking on the occasion, PTI Karachi President Raja Azhar said the people of Karachi had proved that the city had awakened by participating in large numbers despite strict police barricades and restrictions.
He alleged that police sealed the Karachi Press Club with containers, baton-charged peaceful protesters, including women workers, and arrested several PTI activists, calling the actions a blatant violation of the Constitution and fundamental human rights.
He said PTI had formally submitted an application seeking permission for the peaceful protest, yet police still resorted to unlawful use of force. He demanded the immediate release of Dr Masroor Sial and all other detained workers, withdrawal of what he called fabricated cases, and respect for every citizen’s constitutional right to peaceful protest.
