Karachi, January 12, 2024: Sindh Governor Saeed Ullah Afridi’s visit to Karachi was marred by violence as PTI workers clashed with police at various locations, including People’s Park and Mazar-e-Quaid.
During his visit, Afridi addressed a gathering at People’s Park, following which PTI workers dispersed from the venue. Prior to the gathering, Afridi had visited various areas of Karachi, including Kemari and the City Municipality, accompanied by his entourage.
Tensions ran high earlier in the day as PTI workers and police clashed near Bagh-e-Jinah, with PTI workers pelting stones at the police. A police official was injured in the incident. According to police, over 30 PTI workers have been taken into custody, and a police official was injured during the clash.
The police charged at PTI workers with batons near People’s Park, taking over 30 workers into custody. The closure of several roads, including People’s Park, Mazar-e-Quaid, Khadda Dad Coloney, and Gurdwara, disrupted traffic in the city.
The Sindh Government had earlier warned the PTI against holding a rally in Karachi, but the party had insisted on going ahead with the event. Chairman PTI, Barrister Gohar, had said earlier that the Sindh Government should allow the rally to take place in a peaceful manner.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a gas explosion occurred at a shop in Chak Shafia, a village near Pakpattan, leaving several people injured. A wedding ceremony was also held at the Railway Ground in Karachi, organized by the Hindu Council.
In a statement, Asad Qaiser, a senior leader of PTI, said that the party would hold the rally as per the constitution and the law. However, the Sindh Government has maintained that the rally would not be allowed to take place without the permission of the Federal Government.
The incident comes as the city grapples with severe traffic congestion. The Traffic Police has said that there is no traffic jam in the city, but several roads have been closed due to the rally.
In a separate incident, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Asad Durrani, has returned to Pakistan after participating in the OIC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Jeddah.
