KARACHI: Police on Sunday detained several workers of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) who had gathered in Sohrab Goth to make arrangements for a forthcoming meeting of the party related to commemoration of two death anniversaries, according to a local party leader and the police.

The city police chief, Additional IG Karachi Ghulam Nabi Memon, confirmed to Dawn that “the police have taken action against PTM activists”.

Mr Memon said that the “PTM activists made anti-state speeches a few days ago,” adding that an FIR was registered against them.

He claimed that the PTM was planning to organise a rally in Karachi on Feb 9. He pointed out that in this connection, one corner meeting was held on Sunday at 3pm in Sohrab Goth.

“Police, anticipating law and order situation in the city, arrested 33, including three who were nominated in FIR 110/2020 lodged a few days ago,” he said.

The PTM Karachi leader, Noorullah Tareen, told Dawn that his group had arranged a peaceful meeting at a ground behind Al-Asif Square in Sohrab Goth. It was aimed at making preparations for holding a meeting in the same area on Feb 9 related to commemoration of death anniversaries of Prof Arman Looni and Naqeebullah Mehsud.

Mr Tareen said that several workers had reached the ground and others were on their way to the venue when contingents of the police reached there and detained around 30 to 35 activists. The party leader alleged that the police also manhandled some of the activists.

Meanwhile, a senior lea­der of the Pakistan Peoples Party, the ruling party in Sindh, Farhatullah Babar, in a tweet condemned the police ‘assault on the peaceful meeting’ in Karachi.

He demanded release of the arrested workers.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2020