KARACHI: In the backdrop of the crackdown on the activists of the Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah in the federal capital, religious activists held protest demonstrations in Karachi and other parts of Sindh on Saturday.
Protesters blocked roads and got shops closed in various areas of Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Tando Allahyar, Jacobabad.
In Karachi, protesters, who have been staging a sit-in at Numaish Chowrangi since last week, blocked roads leading to Saddar and other areas of the city. Cars line up in long queues at Hassan Square as traffic jams ensued due to the protest
Religious parties protested near Tower, Hassan Square, Star Gate, Jauhar Chaurangi, MA Jinnah Road, Khudadad Colony, New Karachi and Nazimabad.
Karachi police opened aerial firing, fired tear gas shells and baton charged the protesters.
During the scuffle near Star Gate, Memon Goth Station House Officer (SHO) Gulzar received bullet injuries while 14 other people sustained injuries during clash between religious activists and law enforcers
The injured were shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center for treatment, whereas SHO, Gulazar, was shifted to Aga Khan Hospital.
Taking notice of the situation, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah directed Sindh Police Inspector General AD Khwaja and Karachi Commissioner Aijaz Ahmed Khan to deploy police and law enforcement agencies and disperse protesters.
He also directed DIG traffic to ensure smooth traffic flow in the city.
More contingents of police were called in for backup as protesters turned violent at Star Gate. Protesters pelted stones on vehicles of security forces and others. Police tear gassed protesters at Star Gate. Emergency was declared across public hospitals in Karachi. II Chundrigar Road and MA Jinnah Road were also closed for traffic. Armed persons force closure of shops at Numaish Chowrangi.
The protesters also came on roads in Tower, Hasan Square, Gruminder, Korangi, North Nazimabad and Sohrab Goth areas. The protesters also blocked the main road link between Karachi and Hyderabad. Religious parties also held protest demonstrations in Mirpur Khas.
The protesters first gathered at Market Chowk and held a demonstration. Later, they reached local press club, where they staged a sit-in and blocked roads leading to different areas of the city. The protesters, led by Sharif Saeedi and Mushtaq Naqshbandi, chanted slogans against the government for launching the crackdown. They vowed to widen the scope of the protest.
Published in Daily Times, November 26th 2017.