Police arrest Haleem Adil Sheikh and over 20 PTI workers during Karachi Press Club protest

Police arrested Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Sindh Chairman Haleem Adil Sheikh along with over 20 party leaders and workers, both men and women, during a protest outside the Karachi Press Club on Friday.

The PTI had called the protest after authorities refused to allow a meeting with jailed party founder Imran Khan. A large contingent of police, including a number of women, was deployed around the press club ahead of the demonstration. Roads in the area were blocked. Buses, minibuses and other means of transport have been diverted to alternative routes.

After Friday prayers, a group of workers gathered outside the press club, demanding a meeting with the party founder and former prime minister and calling for his release. They dispersed shortly after. Later, a gathering led by Sheikh managed to reach the press club and join the protest.

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Addressing his supporters, Sheikh said the party would continue its protests until a meeting with the PTI founder was allowed. The workers raised slogans as more workers and party supporters also joined the movement.

The police intervened to disperse the demonstration. Police men and women arrested several protesters, including Sheikh, who was arrested along with other leaders and workers and transferred to nearby police stations. Female party members were transferred to the women’s police station. The surrounding area briefly descended into a confrontation zone as police and protesters engaged in a lengthy cat-and-mouse chase. Once the arrests were completed, police cleared the scene and opened the roads.

Speaking to reporters, PTI MP Sajid Hussain Mir said, “The party had organized a peaceful protest in an attempt to meet Khan, but the police started arresting the workers when they were already dispersing. He condemned the arrest of more than 20 leaders and workers, including Sheikh, adding that the party was pursuing legal avenues for their release.

Read also: PTI demands meeting with Imran Khan, citing health concerns

According to PTI Sindh spokesperson, the protesters were protesting against the suspension of meetings with Imran Khan when the police “took action” against peaceful protesters and PTI leaders and arrested Sheikh along with many others, including Dawa Khan, Muazzam Khan, Yasir Baloch, Anwar Mehdi, Raza Yasir and over two dozen workers. Managers and workers were also arrested.

Sheikh and other senior leaders were shifted to Preedy police station.

South SSP Manzoor Ali confirmed that several PTI leaders and workers had been arrested and said further action would be taken as per the law.

Speaking at the protest earlier, Sheikh had said that the entire nation had only one demand: permission to meet Imran Khan. He said the protest remained peaceful but “the police attacked the workers.” “We will no longer tolerate this injustice,” he said.

The PTI spokesperson said protests across Sindh would continue against the suspension of meetings with the party founder.

In a video statement posted on “Our peaceful protest was attacked. Male police officers also misbehaved with women, and they will not be spared from this,” he said.

Sheikh demanded that the authorities reveal the health condition of PTI founder Imran Khan and allow party leaders to meet him immediately. “Tell us about Khan’s condition, arrange a meeting with him. Shoot us if necessary – we don’t care about our own lives,” he added.

PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram also alleged that male police officers misbehaved with female protesters, calling it a “shameful and punishable act”.

Imran has been incarcerated since August 2023 and is serving a 14-year sentence for corruption. His party says prolonged solitary confinement violates prison rules. Online campaigns pushed the hashtag “WHEREISIMRANKHAN”.

Speculation about Imran’s possible transfer to a more restrictive facility has circulated in local media. However, a senior prison official told Reuters the ex-prime minister was in good health and no moves were planned. The official declined to be named due to protocol.