JI Karachi Ameer Monem Zafar addresses protesters at Lasbela Chowk, Karachi on February 15. Photo: Express
KARACHI:
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) observed a national day of protest on Sunday, following its Ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman’s call against police brutality and arrest of workers during a protest outside the Sindh Assembly on Saturday.
In Karachi, sit-in protests took place on 10 main streets of the city. Sit-ins were held at Shahrah-e-Pakistan, Super Highway, National Highway, Shahrah-e-Orangi, Shahrah-e-Korangi Crossing, Hub River Road (Sher Shah), Dawood Chowrangi, Lea Market, Shahrah-e-Sher Shah Suri Road and Johar Mor on Rashid Minhas Road.
Addressing protesters at Lasbela Chowk, JI Karachi Ameer Monem Zafar said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is an anti-Karachi party and has become the ‘A+ team’ of the establishment.
Zafar said the PPP usurped the rights of Karachi’s citizens and took control of the city’s institutions and resources. He criticized the government for patronizing riverside bandits while registering terrorism cases against those protesting for Karachi’s rights.
Learn more: Several arrested, injured as Karachi police clash with JI protesters near Sindh Assembly
He added that the 18 years of PPP rule deprived the people of Karachi of the right to life, but he promised that the resistance and struggle would continue.
Meanwhile, a Special Judicial Magistrate (South) handed over 30 JI workers on one-day remand to police in a case registered under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). The workers face charges of arson, damage to public and private property and rioting.
JI Karachi Deputy Emir and Karachi Metropolitan Corportation (KMC) Opposition Chief Lawyer Saifuddin, along with other lawyers and party leaders, appeared before the court during the hearing.
The prosecution told the court that the accused were booked for burning properties and causing trouble, with clauses relating to terrorism included in the FIR. The magistrate placed them in custody for further investigation.
JI denounces terrorism accusations
Barrister Saifuddin sharply criticized the Sindh government for leveling terrorism charges against the peaceful JI workers, who were arrested during a protest outside the Sindh Assembly.
Addressing the media outside the municipal courts, he said the workers were exercising their constitutional right against corruption and worsening civic problems of Karachi when the police launched a brutal crackdown. “It is shameful that clauses on terrorism have been added to the FIR, when the real terrorism is being carried out by the provincial government itself,” he remarked.
According to the JI, police used excessive force, including baton blows and heavy shelling, seriously injuring four workers. Bombing was also reported on two mosques, one of which caught fire. A firefighter was seriously injured when he was targeted while trying to put out the blaze.
Saifuddin demanded immediate release of all detained workers and withdrawal of false cases.
More than 300 reserved
A complaint was registered at the Aram Bagh police station on Sunday against a JI sit-in staged in front of the Sindh Assembly on Saturday, naming 34 people and 325 unidentified participants.
The FIR includes charges of rioting, attempt to murder, assault on police, damage to government property, road blockade, obstructing official functions, violation of Section 144 and provisions of anti-terrorism laws.
According to the complaint, senior party leaders – including Sufian Dilawar, Usman Sharif, Faizan and Jawad Shoaib – supervised the protest and allegedly incited the crowd with speeches. Between 300 and 325 participants were present, some apparently armed with sticks and batons.
Police said the mob turned violent and attacked the police officers, injuring inspector Raja Masood, Preedy SHO Ayub Mirani, Shah Faisal Khan SHO and constable Zohaib. Despite warnings and anti-riot measures, protesters reportedly remained aggressive, prompting police to use tear gas to disperse them.
Around thirty suspects were arrested while others fled. Police said they recovered five 30 caliber pistol cartridges, five 9mm cartridges, 15 wooden sticks, 35 stones and 79 tear gas shell casings from the scene. A police mobile was also damaged during the unrest.
