KARACHI: Clashes continued throughout the day between protesters and police in the Malir 15 area. Police used tear gas after being pelted with stones by protesters who took to the streets against the arrest of religious and political leaders in the city.
At least three policeman were injured by protestors who blocked traffic at the National Highway and stopped trains on their tracks.
According to latest development, DIG East Arif Hameed reached the site, taking hold of the operation. Police also took into custody some of the protestors.
Earlier, police pelted tear-gas shells at the protesters to disperse the crowd. The protesters hauled heavy trailers to block Jinnah Avenue, obstructing traffic flow.
The long queues of cars also affected traffic flow on Shahrah-e-Faisal.
School children had to return home early morning as traffic jams caused by the protest sit-in worsened. Traffic at the National Highway was suspended following the incident. Angry protestors also blocked the railway tracks, disrupting the trains’ schedule. Later on, police reopened both the tracks of the National Highway.
Will not bow before protestors: Police chief
Additional Inspector General Mushtaq Mehar said that police would not bow to the prostestors after clashes started between police and demonstrators in Karachi’s Malir area.
The police chief was addressing a press conference and said that some people protest within legal parameters but some try to impose their will.
Mehar said that crackdown has begun against banned and extremist organisations in Karachi.
He said that police is trying to peacefully deal with the issue through negotiation with protesters.
“If demonstrators do not pay heed then legal action will be taken,†said Mehar.
While addressing the topic of Faisal Raza Abidi’s arrest, Mehar said that police has evidence against him in some cases.
The police chief said that if Abidi does not get bail then in light of evidence, a challan will be issued.
Big network unearthed following arrests: Ebad
Governor Sindh Ishratul Ebad in light of the city’s tense situation said that law and order should be maintained at all costs, adding that a big network was unearthed after arrests of people.
“We all are Muslims, religion will be respected,†said Ebad.
Train operations restored after hours-long suspension
Due to the current situation, the trains coming to and from the city faced difficulties, although they were restored in the evening.
Five trains coming to Railway Station were stopped outside Karachi while Allama Iqbal Express and Pakistan Express could not leave Karachi according to the schedule.
Due to pelting of stones, the engine of Pakistan Express was also damaged.
Settlement
After holding talks with the demonstrators in an attempt to resolve the situation through settlement, police officials released the four protestors they had apprehended earlier today. In exchange the demonstrators agreed to open one track of the National Highway, providing some relief to the severe traffic jam caused by the blockade.
Police had earlier said they would take legal action against the protestors if the talks failed.
Police summoned Rapid Response Force to the site to control the demonstration.
The demonstration started around 7 AM today and is still ongoing.
Crackdown
Law enforcement agencies (LEAs) rounded up Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen leader Allama Syed Ahmed Iqbal in a search operation on Monday. At least seven people were arrested and 20 detained in the overnight raids conducted by police and Rangers.
LEAs also took into custody Taj Hanif, leader of the banned Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamat (ASWJ), on Sunday. Earlier the authorities had apprehended Allama Mirza Yousuf Hussain along with nearly 40 suspects in overnight raids in Karachi.
Hussain – a prominent scholar – was taken into custody from Nazimabad area of the metropolis and moved to an undisclosed location for interrogation. Charges against him were not immediately known.
Meanwhile a local court on Sunday sent former senator Faisal Raza Abidi to prison on judicial remand till Nov 19.
A case was registered against Abidi at Sachal police station for ‘illegal possession’ of weapons on Sunday. According to investigative officials, five different kinds of illegally possessed weapons were recovered from his residence in Karachi.
Abidi was arrested from his residence in New Rizvia Society on Friday on charges of a target-killing incident in Patel Para in which two people were killed.
Abidi, known for his firebrand speeches for his former party, Pakistan People’s Party, resigned from the Senate in 2014.
