PTI alleges police excesses as it stages protest rallies

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) organised a motorcycle protest rally on Thursday, which traversed through various areas of the city starting from Tariq Road and passing through Sharea Faisal.

A considerable number of the PTI leaders and activists participated in the rally. However, according to a statement issued by the party, the rally led by PTI leader Jamal Siddiqui in the PIB Colony area was disrupted by police, resulting in the arrest of Siddiqui and other party leaders.

The PTI alleged that police used violence against female party workers during the disruption. Additionally, another rally from Hassan Square to Mazar-e-Quaid reportedly faced indiscriminate firing by police, leading to injuries among several activists who were subsequently hospitalised, as per the PTI’s claims.

Sindh PTI leaders, including Haleem Adil Sheikh and Advocate Ali Palh, strongly condemned the police’s use of force against their protest rallies. Sheikh asserted that protests occurred in 18 locations across Karachi, Sukkur, Thatta, and other cities, where PTI leaders were purportedly targeted and arrested by the police.

He decried the arrests and police violence, particularly against female workers, emphasising the constitutional right to peaceful protest, which he alleged was being obstructed. Sheikh further criticised the governance of the Pakistan Peoples Party in Sindh, demanding the immediate release of the arrested PTI leaders.

He urged the police to refrain from serving the interests of their masters and to instead focus on their primary duties, accusing them of neglecting to address street criminals and robbers while targeting the PTI members. Sheikh underscored that the peaceful protests represent a constitutional right and called attention to international scrutiny of state’s actions depriving citizens of their rights.