Workers clash with police; KP CM accuses Sindh govt of creating obstacles; The supporters’ movement is “unstoppable”
KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi addresses a gathering at Numaish Chowrangi in Karachi. Photo: Express
KARACHI:
Imran Khan’s PTI finally managed to hold a rally in Karachi on Sunday – the first outside Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) since May 9, 2023 – amid intense drama, with KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi telling a crowd of supporters that the party’s street movement is now “unstoppable”.
Afridi had arrived in Karachi a few days ago to mobilize PTI workers ahead of the planned protest by opposition parties on February 8, the second anniversary of the 2024 general elections.
On arrival, CM Afridi was welcomed by a provincial minister and the PPP government in Sindh had also granted permission a day earlier to the PTI to hold a rally at Bagh-e-Jinnah in Karachi, which is adjacent to the nation’s founder’s mausoleum.
However, this apparent bonhomie between the PTI and the PPP was short-lived.
According to PTI Sindh spokesperson, when PTI workers started preparing for the rally at the designated venue on Saturday evening, Sindh Police conducted a crackdown, arrested the workers and cleared the ground.
On Sunday morning, police erected barriers and blocked all roads leading to Bagh-e-Jinnah. When workers arrived in the area in gatherings, police began making arrests.
Clashes also broke out between party activists and the police, during which two police officers, including a woman, were slightly injured. Unknown persons also damaged the DSNG vehicle.
During the clashes, workers threw stones at the police, who responded by charging with batons to disperse them and arrested several people. A PTI Sindh spokesperson said more than 35 workers were arrested.
Later, a large number of people entered the premises, after which the police withdrew.
The rally was scheduled to begin Sunday at 4 p.m. However, the central and provincial leadership of the party visited Gadap Town to receive CM Sohail Afridi.
According to reports, Afridi left for the rally venue at 3 p.m. with a convoy, but later changed his schedule. Instead of going directly to the rally venue, he undertook a six-hour tour of different areas before finally reaching the rally venue.
However, the PTI spokesperson claimed that when the CM’s convoy left Gadap town to reach the rally venue, police tried to stop it by placing containers and barriers in various parts of the town.
He said large obstacles were placed on the roads leading to Mazar-e-Quaid and the convoy had to constantly change its route, leading to delays.
Meanwhile, due to absence of lighting, toilets and other basic facilities at Bagh-e-Jinnah, the workers left the premises after Maghrib prayers and moved to Numaish Chowrangi, where the PTI finally held its public rally.
Addressing a gathering late on Sunday evening, CM Sohail Afridi said that the government had treated the PTI in Punjab unfairly and the Sindh government had also not shown fair conduct.
He accused the Sindh government of creating obstacles but said the public removed all barriers and contributed to the success of the rally, adding that the fascism witnessed in Sindh would always be remembered.
He, however, thanked the people of Sindh and expressed sincere gratitude to the people of Karachi, saying the public participation proved that the nation stood firmly with Imran Khan.
“Those who thought Imran Khan’s politics were over should come and see for themselves,” he said, adding that their movement could not be stopped.
He said when Imran Khan called, the public was ready to come out and the people of Karachi had proven that a rally could take place even without facilities.
Afridi claimed that a crowd of hundreds of thousands had proven that PTI was the representative party of Karachi. He criticized those who claimed to be champions of democracy, saying they had failed to uphold democratic values.
He further alleged that the PPP had collectively altered the constitutional framework and claimed that a PPP dictatorship was in place in Sindh. He said the public was ready to march towards D-Chowk and was just waiting for Imran Khan’s call.
“We must stay prepared and maintain this fighting spirit,” he said. “We will not allow anyone to deprive us of our rights, nor anyone to keep the leader of the nation imprisoned without justification. Whenever Imran Khan gives the order, we will act accordingly.”
Earlier, Sindh Chief Minister for Information Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the Sindh government warmly welcomed CM Afridi but despite assurances, the PTI was not fulfilling its commitment.
He said it was made clear from day one that permission had been granted to hold a public rally, despite this, making allegations against the Sindh government is inappropriate.
“No one stopped the PTI from holding a rally at the designated ground. The manner in which the rallies and processions are taking place on the roads is causing serious traffic disruptions and creating hardship for ordinary citizens.
“Karachi is a metropolitan city where even the gathering of a few hundred people can cause traffic problems. We want the KP CM to end his visit smoothly and amicably,” he added.
