KARACHI: Amid escalating tensions following a crackdown on protesters outside the Sindh Assembly, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman has announced a nationwide protest against what the party describes as “police violence.”
Addressing the media on Saturday, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman alleged that 50 party workers have gone missing following the clashes with law enforcement. He announced that sit-ins would be held at ten different locations in Karachi today to protest the treatment of his party members.
“Jamaat-e-Islami is struggling for the people and will not leave the field,” Naeem-ur-Rehman stated, vowing to continue the agitation.
The announcement comes a day after JI attempted to hold a sit-in in front of the Sindh Assembly to demand rights for the city of Karachi. Police intervened to stop the protest, resulting in the use of tear gas and baton-charge (lathicharge) against the workers. Security personnel also seized a truck equipped with a sound system belonging to the party and detained at least 10 workers.
JI Karachi Ameer Munem Zafar condemned the police action, alleging that excessive force was used against his party members. “Five-year-old poisonous tear gas shells were used on our workers,” he claimed. “Several workers have been injured. The PPP has tried to stop our constitutional struggle.”
Responding to the allegations, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon defended the police action. He stated that the administration had warned JI not to enter the Red Zone area. “They pelted stones at the police in the red zone, and that is why they had to be arrested,” Memon said, placing the responsibility for the violence on the protesters.
It should be remembered that Jamaat-e-Islami had announced plans to hold a sit-in in front of the Sindh Assembly on February 14 to advocate for the rights of Karachi. The situation remains tense as the party moves forward with its plan for city-wide sit-ins.
