In a recent development, the Karachi police apprehended a total of 20 workers affiliated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) during the party’s attempt to conduct an election rally in the metropolis ahead of the scheduled polls on February 8. Notably, this incident unfolded as leaders from various political entities, including the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), actively engaged in their election campaigns. PTI, via a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), shared footage depicting police personnel escorting an individual through a crowd, many of whom displayed the party flag.
کراچی میں پولیس گردی جاری!!!
پولیس نے بیشرمی اور دیدہ دلیری سے تحریک انصاف کی ریلی پر دھاوا بولا، ٹرک، لاؤڈ اسپیکر سب توڑ ڈالے۔ عوام پر پرامن ریلی نکالنے پر کس کے حکم پر تشدد کیا جارہا ہے؟؟؟#نکلو_خان_کی_پکار_پر pic.twitter.com/fFqs49cHUf— PTI Karachi (@PTIKarachi_) January 28, 2024
The party expressed concern, stating, “Police are arresting peaceful people at Karachi during PTI’s rally. These are visuals of free and fair elections.” Additional video material revealed a substantial police presence, armed with batons, amid a backdrop of a party banner and scattered flags on the ground. PTI accused the police of raiding the rally and questioned the justification for the alleged mistreatment during a peaceful event. PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan strongly condemned the actions of Karachi Police, emphasizing the constitutional right of every citizen to conduct a peaceful rally during the election campaign.
کراچی پولیس نے پی ٹی آئی سندھ کے جنرل سیکریٹری اور سندھ اسمبلی کے امیدوار ایڈوکیٹ علی پال کو گرفتار کرلیا ہے۔
کراچی پولیس کے اس اقدام کی شدید مذمت کرتے ہیں۔ انتخابی مہم کے دوران پرامن ریلی نکالنا ہر شہری کا آئینی حق ہے۔ @PTIofficial
— Omar Ayub Khan (@OmarAyubKhan) January 28, 2024
Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) South Asad Raza clarified that the police took action due to the absence of a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the PTI’s protest or rally in Karachi’s Clifton area. DIG Raza noted that the police did not receive any request for an NOC and mentioned that several officers were injured during the incident, with 20-25 PTI-affiliated individuals arrested. Furthermore, he stated that the police would initiate an FIR (first information report) against the detained individuals.
