After police used force to block a sit-in at the Sindh Assembly, JI Karachi chief Monem Zafar announced on Saturday that protests will take place at 10 locations across the city tomorrow (Sunday).
The religio-political party had announced a protest outside the provincial legislature under its "Jeenay Do Karachi Ko" (Let Karachi Live) campaign, demanding urgent measures to address the city’s damaged roads, drainage problems, and issues in the local body system.
Zafar's statement came after police officials fired teargas shells and resorted to baton charge to disperse the JI workers as they attempted to march towards the Sindh Assembly to stage a sit-in over Karachi's civic issues and local body system.
Addressing a press conference, Zafar said that the protest had been announced to demand Karachi's rights, describing the police action as the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) "fascist behaviour" in the city.
He added that peaceful citizens were subjected to injustice and censured the administration for arresting several JI workers and firing teargas shells during the demonstration.
Zafar alleged that expired teargas shells from 2022 and 2023 were used against protesters. He called on the provincial authorities to explain why Karachi had been turned into what he termed a "no-go area".
Later, the JI leader announced plans to hold sit-ins at 10 locations across Karachi tomorrow and instructed party workers to disperse for now.
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon, however, said that the police and local administration were in contact with the JI and had advised the party to conduct a peaceful protest, warning them not to enter the Red Zone.
Speaking to Geo News, the minister said that JI workers violated Section 144 and pelted police with stones after entering the Red Zone.
Authorities were forced to use teargas and arrest JI workers after they attempted to enter the assembly, he added.
Memon emphasised that no one would be allowed to take the law into their own hands.
Condemning the police action against protesters, JI Pakistan Emir Naeemur Rehman said that the entire country was witnessing what he described as the "PPP's fascist conduct" in Karachi.
The firing of teargas at peaceful citizens and attempts to prevent a sit-in outside the Sindh Assembly demonstrate the provincial government's failure and panic, he wrote in a post on X.
Naeem added that an empowered city government was Karachi's right and asserted that the people of the metropolis would secure their right.
Separately, the JI emir said that peaceful protesters in Karachi were deliberately targeted with violence in an attempt to disrupt their demonstration.
Naeem, addressing a press conference at the party's headquarters alongside JI Karachi chief, announced that protests would be organised across the country tomorrow (Sunday).
He also demanded the immediate release of all detained party workers.
Earlier today, tensions escalated when protesters tried to move past the barricades outside the Sindh Assembly, prompting police to fire teargas and use batons to push them back.
At least one JI worker was injured by the police baton charge and teargas shelling. Police also confiscated the party's sound system mounted on a truck and detained at least nine workers.
Police said that three cops sustained injuries after protesters allegedly pelted stones at them.
Despite the police action, several JI workers managed to reach the premises of the Sindh Assembly, moving past barricades amid baton charges and teargas shelling.
Tensions remain high as a strong police presence seeks to contain the situation, while hundreds of JI activists remain assembled on Court Road near the Sindh Assembly.
