Case registered against Haleem Adil Sheikh, over 100 PTI workers after Karachi protest

KARACHI: A case has been registered against Haleem Adil Sheikh and more than 100 workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) after a protest in Karachi’s Red Zone allegedly turned violent, police said on Monday.

According to police, 24 PTI workers involved in the protest and rioting were arrested, including former members of the National Assembly Alamgir Khan and Dawa Khan.

The FIR was lodged at Artillery Maidan Police Station on behalf of the state over Sunday’s protest at Fawara Chowk. It includes charges of violating Section 144, vandalism, rioting and other related offences.

Police said around 150 PTI workers had gathered at Fawara Chowk under the leadership of Haleem Adil Sheikh and were marching towards the Karachi Press Club. The FIR stated that protesters were carrying party flags and sticks.

Officials said demonstrators had been informed about the imposition of Section 144 in the Red Zone and restrictions on movement. However, when stopped, the protesters allegedly became agitated and attacked police personnel with sticks and stones.

Police said additional force was called in and action was taken, during which 24 individuals were arrested while others managed to escape.

The protest was organised by PTI against the recent increase in petroleum prices, with participants chanting slogans against the government.

According to South SSP Mahzoor Ali, police resorted to tear gas shelling after protesters allegedly began pelting stones. Several individuals, including women, were taken into custody, he added.

The clash caused panic in the area and disrupted traffic flow for some time.

Read More: Three Pakistanis injured after projectile debris falls at Sharjah port

Heavy police contingents were also deployed at Numaish Chowrangi, Teen Talwar Chowrangi and Millennium Mall in Gulistan-e-Jauhar amid fears of further protests.

The demonstration comes against the backdrop of rising global oil prices linked to tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which led to a significant increase in petrol and diesel prices earlier this month, triggering inflationary pressures.

However, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently reduced petrol prices to Rs378 per litre for one month and slashed the petroleum levy by Rs80 per litre in a bid to provide relief to the public.