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KARACHI: Police on Sunday detained 23 PTI leaders and workers, including two former lawmakers, after they clashed with the police near Karachi Press Club (KPC), an official said.<\/p>\n
PTI workers and supporters had gathered at the spot to hold a demonstration against rising fuel prices.<\/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 But the situation turned violent, with the PTI alleging that police subjected the protesters to violence.<\/p>\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 But, 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 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 Later, South Deputy Inspector General Syed Asad Raza told Dawn<\/em> that police had arrested 23 workers and leaders of the PTI, including two former lawmakers.<\/p>\n A first information report (FIR) had been registered against them on the state\u2019s behalf, he said, adding that the FIR was registered at the Artillery Maidan police station under Sections 188 (disobedience to an order lawfully promulgated by a public servant), 186 (obstructing public servant), 149 (offence committed by member of unlawful assembly) and 147 (punishment for rioting).<\/p>\n He said around 100 to 150 PTI workers, led by the party\u2019s Sindh president, Haleem Adil Sheikh, had reached Fawara Chowk on Abdullah Haroon Road for the planned protest. He claimed that they were carrying sticks along with banners.<\/p>\n As tried to move toward the KPC, police attempted to stop them and informed them that the Sindh government had imposed section 144, banning rallies in the Red Zone, he said. Police asked them to disperse, but the protesters resorted to violence and attacked the police party with sticks and stones, prompting the police to call in reinforcements of personnel, the DIG said.<\/p>\n He said the 23 arrested protesters included two former lawmakers \u2014 Dawa Khan and Alamgir Khan \u2014 and two lawyers, Maqsood Alam and Khalid Mehmood.<\/p>\n The PTI\u2019s Karachi division condemned the arrests in a statement, demanded the release of the protesters and urged the Sindh High Court chief justice to take notice of the matter.<\/p>\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<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/a>Road closures<\/h2>\n
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