A man was killed and several others were injured when police tried to break up two protest rallies organized by the Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and civil society organizations in violation of a ban imposed under Section 144 of the criminal procedure code across the metropolis, officials said on Sunday.
The TLP had announced a march from Teen Talwar to the Karachi Press Club against rights bodies and activists for “favoring” blasphemy suspect Dr Shahnawaz Kunbhar who was killed by police in a staged encounter.
Civil society organizations also planned to hold the ‘Sindh Rawadari March’ against the killing of Dr Kunbhar and rising extremism in the province at the same venue.
In a bid to avoid a potential law and order situation, the government had on Saturday imposed a complete ban on holding rallies, sit-ins, protest demonstrations, etc, under Section 144.
On Sunday, the police blocked several roads by placing containers in several areas in district South to prevent the assembly of protesters at Teen Talwar or the KPC.
However, the curbs did not deter the TLP or civil society organizations from attempting to stage their respective protest.
A large number of TLP activists fought pitched battles with the police and Rangers near the Metropole Hotel area, while civil society activists clashed with law enforcers in front of the KPC when they tried to stop them from staging a rally.
The TLP activists tried to march on KPC but the police resorted to tear gas shelling and baton-charge to disperse them. Shots were also fired as protesters pelted law enforcers with stones and torched a mobile van.
However, DIG-South Syed Asad Raza claimed that the TLP activist was shot dead by his “own people” who resorted to firing on law enforcers.
He told Dawn that the police arrested over 70 activists of the TLP for their alleged involvement in setting a police mobile van on fire and wounding 10 policemen.
The body of the deceased TLP worker was taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. Police Surgeon Summaiya Syed said that he suffered a single bullet wound in the head.
A senior police officer said that TLP workers resorted to violence at the JPMC, but the law enforcers reached there and prevented the situation from spiraling out of control.
Rights activists briefly held at KPC
Despite all hurdles, a large number of activists reached the KPC at 4:30 pm to stage ‘Sindh Rawadari March. However, the police fired tear gas shells, resorted to baton charges and detained several of them including women.
Witnesses said some media persons covering the protest were also beaten up by the police and detained, along with several rights activists.
March organizers said that over 40 activists were picked up, but all of them were released late in the evening.
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and the Sindh Human Rights Commission expressed serious concerns over the police action against “peaceful” participants of the Sindh Rawadari March.
The DIG-South said that the police took action against rights activists outside the KPC as they also violated Section 144.
He said the police decided to lodge FIRs against TLP workers and rights activists.
