Several PTI supporters detained as police scuttle protest near Karachi Press Club – Pakistan
KARACHI: Police on Sunday detained over 15 PTI supporters after they clashed with the police near Karachi Press Club (KPC) to protest against rising fuel prices, an official said.
In a video statement, South Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mahzor Ali said “some miscreants” pelted stones at police personnel, who were deployed to “control law and order”.
He added that the police responded to the pelting through “shelling and baton-charge”.
While he said the exact number of those taken into custody could not be specified, SSP Ali estimated that “between 15 to 20” people had been held. He added that legal action will be taken against those detained.
Responding to a question, the SSP asserted that the police did not employ shelling or baton-charge unprompted, but in response to the individuals pelting stones.
The PTI had announced a protest outside KPC at 4pm today against “rising inflation in the country and the increase in prices of petroleum products to record levels”.
The PTI’s Sindh chapter shared a video on X showing policewomen dragging women.
“Women participating in the protest against inflation were beaten and arrested,” the party alleged.
Shortly after 2pm, PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh had said the PPP-led “so-called democratic government had closed off the press club through its police”.
Sheikh stated that the PTI had called for “peaceful” protests today across Sindh, including at KPC.
“Where else should we go if not the press club?” he asked, quipping that some “favourite political parties” were even allowed to block Sharea Faisal for their gatherings.
Journalists voice concerns over road closures near KPC
Shortly before noon, two roads leading to the KPC had been closed, with the traffic police citing “security” reasons.
In a statement issued at 11:50am, the Karachi Traffic Police (KTP) said both tracks of Din Mohammad Wafai Road were shut.
It added that Sarwar Shaheed Road from the Coast Guard Officers’ Mess towards Angle Chowk, Karachi Press Club was also closed for traffic.
The KTP cited “security” as the reason for the closure of the routes.
Detailing alternative routes, the KTP said traffic was being diverted from M.R. Kyani Road towards the street with the police station.
Vehicles coming from Fawara Chowk were being diverted towards Aiwan-i-Sadr and Zainab Market, while those coming from the Coast Guards’ Mess could go towards Passport Office, it added.
The roadblocks come ahead of the protest by the PTI against inflation and high petroleum prices, which have seen major increases over the past month due to the US-Israel war on Iran.
Subsequently, senior journalists expressed their objections to the authorities blocking routes leading to the KPC.
KPC President Fazil Jamili said on X, “No more siege of Karachi Press Club. KPC is a sanctuary of free speech, not a tactical blockade.
“Every time roads are sealed, the voice of the people is stifled. Journalists must have access to their 2nd home. It’s a symbol of democracy, stop treating it like a battleground,” he stressed.
Former KPC president Saeed Sarbazi also described the situation: “All roads to the Karachi Press Club sealed — containers, barriers, and silence.
“This is how voices are suppressed. A direct assault on press freedom and democratic rights,” he wrote on X.
In January, roads leading to the KPC had been blocked for hours as lawyers, human rights activists and civil society members staged a protest against the conviction of Imaan Zainab Hazir-Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha.
