Third FIR registered over violence during anti-canals protests

As anti-canals protests continue in different parts of Sindh, demonstrators in Karachi regrouped near Gulshan-e-Hadeed on Monday, leading to the closure of both tracks of Link Road, following the previous day’s violent clashes with police.

A third FIR has been registered over the violence, which included rioting, attacking police, and vandalising and torching a police van. Lodged at the Bin Qasim police station on behalf of the state, the FIR nominates six identified and 80 to 90 unidentified suspects.

The case includes charges of terrorism, arson, rioting, interfering in government duties and other serious offences. According to the FIR, the protesters assaulted police officials and snatched a bulletproof jacket, shells and shields among other items during the unrest.

Two separate cases have already been registered at the Steel Town police station. Police said the identification of those involved in the violence, attacking police and damaging police property is under way through video and photo evidence. Many suspects have already been identified, and raids are being conducted to arrest them.

On Sunday lawyers and political workers had clashed with police on the National Highway and Link Road near Gulshan-e-Hadeed during their protest against the construction of new canals on the Indus River.

The area resembled a battlefield as protesters pelted police with stones and freely used sticks, injuring several officers and personnel. Enraged individuals also attacked and damaged a police van before setting it on fire.

Following orders from senior authorities, police used tear gas, batons, aerial firing and water cannons to disperse the protesters. Over two dozen individuals, including lawyers, were detained on charges of rioting. Due to the unrest, the National Highway remained completely blocked since morning, causing severe inconvenience to commuters.

A protest camp had been set up by lawyers, political workers and nationalist activists seven days ago near Steel Town, Gulshan-e-Hadeed, on the National Highway and Link Road.

On Sunday morning, acting on directives from their seniors, police attempted to dismantle the camp, sparking outrage among the protesters. Lawyers and activists surrounded the police, attacked them and started pelting them with stones.