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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.<\/p>\n
In a video statement, South Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mahzor Ali said \u201csome miscreants\u201d pelted stones at police personnel, who were deployed to \u201ccontrol law and order\u201d.<\/p>\n
He added that the police responded to the pelting through \u201cshelling and baton-charge\u201d.<\/p>\n
While he said the exact number of those taken into custody could not be specified, SSP Ali estimated that \u201cbetween 15 to 20\u201d people had been held. He added that legal action will be taken against those detained.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The PTI had announced a protest outside KPC at 4pm today against \u201crising inflation in the country and the increase in prices of petroleum<\/a> products to record levels\u201d.<\/p>\n \n <\/a>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n The PTI\u2019s Sindh chapter shared a video on X showing policewomen dragging women.<\/p>\n \u201cWomen participating in the protest against inflation were beaten and arrested,\u201d the party alleged.<\/p>\n \n <\/a>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Shortly after 2pm, PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh had said the PPP-led \u201cso-called democratic government had closed off the press club through its police\u201d.<\/p>\n Sheikh stated that the PTI had called for \u201cpeaceful\u201d protests today across Sindh, including at KPC.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere else should we go if not the press club?\u201d he asked, quipping that some \u201cfavourite political parties\u201d were even allowed to block Sharea Faisal for their gatherings.<\/p>\n \n <\/a>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Shortly before noon, two roads leading to the KPC had been closed, with the traffic police citing \u201csecurity\u201d reasons.<\/p>\n In a statement issued at 11:50am, the Karachi Traffic Police (KTP) said both tracks of Din Mohammad Wafai Road were shut.<\/p>\n It added that Sarwar Shaheed Road from the Coast Guard Officers\u2019 Mess towards Angle Chowk, Karachi Press Club was also closed for traffic.<\/p>\n The KTP cited \u201csecurity\u201d as the reason for the closure of the routes.<\/p>\n \n <\/a>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Detailing alternative routes, the KTP said traffic was being diverted from M.R. Kyani Road towards the street with the police station.<\/p>\n Vehicles coming from Fawara Chowk were being diverted towards Aiwan-i-Sadr and Zainab Market, while those coming from the Coast Guards\u2019 Mess could go towards Passport Office, it added.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Subsequently, senior journalists expressed their objections to the authorities blocking routes leading to the KPC.<\/p>\n KPC President Fazil Jamili said on X, \u201cNo more siege of Karachi Press Club. KPC is a sanctuary of free speech, not a tactical blockade.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery time roads are sealed, the voice of the people is stifled. Journalists must have access to their 2nd home. It\u2019s a symbol of democracy, stop treating it like a battleground,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n \n <\/a>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Former KPC president Saeed Sarbazi also described the situation: \u201cAll roads to the Karachi Press Club sealed \u2014 containers, barriers, and silence.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is how voices are suppressed. A direct assault on press freedom and democratic rights,\u201d he wrote on X.<\/p>\n \n <\/a>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n In January, roads leading to the KPC had been blocked for hours<\/a> as lawyers, human rights activists and civil society members staged a protest against the conviction<\/a> of Imaan Zainab Hazir-Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha.<\/p>\n<\/a>Journalists voice concerns over road closures near KPC<\/h2>\n