• Over 70 workers of religious party held for torching police van
• DIG claims worker killed in firing by TLP activists
• Police also fire tear gas, baton charge civil society activists who gathered at press club to stage Sindh Rawadari March
• Home minister orders action against policemen involved in manhandling women protesters, journalists

KARACHI: A man was killed and several others were injured when police tried to break up two protest rallies organised by the Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and civil society organisations in violation of a ban imposed under Section 144 of the criminal procedure code across the metropolis, officials said on Sunday.

The TLP had announced a march from Teen Talwar to the Karachi Press Club (KPC) against rights bodies and activists for “favouring” blasphemy suspect Dr Shahnawaz Kunbhar who was killed by police in a staged encounter. Civil society organisations also planned to hold ‘Sindh Rawadari March’ against the killing of Dr Kunbhar and rising extremism in the province at the same venue.

In a bid to avoid a potential law and order situation, the government had on Saturday imposed a complete ban on holding rallies, sit-ins, protest demonstrations, etc, under Section 144.

On Sunday, the police blocked several roads by placing containers in several areas in district South to prevent assembly of protesters at Teen Talwar or the KPC. However, the curbs did not deter the TLP or civil society organisations from attempting to stage their respective protest.

A large number of TLP activists fought pitched battles with the police and Rangers near the Metropole Hotel area, while civil society activists clashed with law enforcers in front of the KPC when they tried to stop them from staging a rally.

The TLP activists tried to march on KPC but the police resorted to tear gas shelling and baton-charge to disperse them. Shots were also fired as protesters pelted law enforcers with stones and torched a mobile van.

TLP spokesperson Rehan Mohammed Khan told Dawn that their worker Mohammed Majid Aziz was killed by police who he said opened “straight fire” on “unarmed” protesters.

However, DIG-South Syed Asad Raza claimed that the TLP activist was shot dead by his “own people” who resorted to firing on law enforcers.

He told Dawn that the police arrested over 70 activists of the TLP for their alleged involvement in setting a police mobile van on fire and wounding 10 policemen.

The body of the deceased TLP worker was taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. Police Surgeon Summaiya Syed said that he suffered a single bullet wound in the head.

A senior police officer said that TLP workers resorted to violence at the JPMC, but the law enforcers reached there and prevented the situation from spiralling out of control.

Rights activists briefly held at KPC

Despite all hurdles, a large number of activists reached the KPC at 4:30pm to stage ‘Sindh Rawadari March. However, the police fired tear gas shells, resorted to baton charge and detained several of them including women.

Witnesses said some media persons covering the protest were also beaten up by the police and detained, along with several rights activists.

March organisers said that over 40 activists were picked up, but all of them were released late in the evening.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and Sindh Human Rights Commission expressed serious concerns over the police action against “peaceful” participants of Sindh Rawadari March.

The DIG-South said that the police took action against rights activists outside the KPC as they also violated Section 144.

He said the police decided to lodge FIRs against TLP workers and rights activists.

Home minister orders action

Sindh Home Minister Zia ul Hasan Lanjar said that an action would be taken against police officers involved in arrest and manhandling of women protesters and journalists on Sunday.

He said that two police officers were injured, while a police van was also set on fire by the protesters who violated Section 144. “A strict action will be taken against those who took the law in their hands and this action will be taken without discrimination of colour, caste and religion.”

The minister lamented that both demonstrations were held at the behest of political organisations. “There are elements who intend to endanger the sovereignty and peace of Pakistan and harm the economy,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2024