TLP workers detained before protest against ‘poll rigging’

Police on Saturday cracked down on Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) workers who wished to hold a rally from Numaish to the election commission’s office in Saddar to protest against alleged rigging in the February 8 general elections, and detained around a dozen of them.

As TLP workers and supporters started gathering at Numaish for the scheduled protest rally, a heavy contingent of police force baton charged the protesters, took around a dozen of them into custody and shifted them to different police stations.

Following the police crackdown, the TLP postponed their protest with the warning of again taking to the streets. TLP spokesman Rehan Qadri said the party had decided to gather at 1pm at Numaish, from where they intended to walk to the election commission’s office to record their protest.

“Our protest was entirely peaceful, and it was our right. However, even before our people could arrive, the police were already present at the location. As our workers started to arrive, the police began baton charging them and making arrests.”

Qadri said that due to these circumstances, they had to postpone their protest. However, he said, discussions are under way, and soon they would be visible on the streets again to record their protest. He stressed that they want to highlight the “rigging” that occurred during the polls.

“Our seats were tampered with. If we talk about Karachi alone, we were winning around four National Assembly seats and almost 12 provincial assembly seats, but suddenly the results changed, and candidates from other parties won. This protest isn’t just limited to Karachi but happening across Pakistan, and will continue.”

Due to the scheduled protest and police action, vehicular traffic was disturbed at Numaish and in the adjacent areas. Police said that action was taken against those who were disturbing vehicular traffic and taking the law into their own hands. No case had been registered until the filing of this report.