KARACHI: Protest demonstrations continued for a second day on Tuesday against the execution of Mumtaz Qadri with Rangers and police personnel resorting to baton charge to disperse the participants in a protest sit-in at the Numaish traffic intersection. Funeral prayers in absentia were also held at places for the convicted killer of Punjab governor Salman Taseer.

The security administration of the Sindh government banned public gatherings in an apparent move to curb pro-Qadri demonstrations organised by different religious organisations. Though there was no word from the police authorities about their action against the sit-in participants, a spokesman for the organisers said a number of activists were missing and were believed to be arrested by law enforcement agencies.

The Jamaat-i-Islami organised funeral prayers in absentia for Mumtaz Qadri in the evening near the Empress Market in Saddar which was attended by a large number of people. Before the prayers, the leaders in their speeches condemned the execution of Mumtaz Qadri arguing that the formalities for true justice were not fulfilled during the trial.

Senior JI leader Asadullah Bhutto led the prayers, which were also attended by Abdul Karim Abid of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Qazi Ahmed Noorani of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan and Shia cleric Allama Yousuf Mirza.

At the Numaish traffic intersection a large number of people started converging in the first half of the day and within a few hours scores of protesters staged a sit-on on the main road. The situation worsened when talks between officials of the law enforcement agencies and organisers of the sit-in failed, triggering baton charge by police and Rangers personnel.

“The sit-in was jointly called by the JUP, Anjuman Talaba-i-Islam, Anjuman Naujawanan-i-Islam, Fidayan-i-Khatam-i-Nubuwwat and Markazi Jamaat-i-Ahl-i-Sunnat,” said Saif-ul-Islam, the spokesman for the participating organisations. “We were peaceful and were only registering our protest but we were attacked by the police and Rangers. Several participants were injured in the baton charge and a number of them were picked up by law enforcement personnel. They are still in their custody.”

Meanwhile, the provincial home department imposed a ban on public gatherings for four days just a day after it had banned pillion riding. Though no reason was mentioned by the authorities for the fresh measure, sources privy to the situation said it was taken on advice of police high-ups to curb pro-Qadri protest demonstrations and prayers in absentia being organised by different religious parties.

“The ban has been imposed for four days, till March 4,” said an official. “Under the Section 144 of the criminal procedure code, public gatherings, rallies or any other activity which involve assembly of more than five people is no more allowed till March 4 in the city. The same is directive for pillion riding, which will remain across Karachi till March 4.”

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2016