Section 144 imposed as police break up assembly, detaining nine people; protests also reported in other Sindh cities
Police officers detain Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters during a protest against the 27th constitutional amendment in Karachi on November 21, 2025. PHOTO: AFP
The Karachi administration prevented the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain from holding a protest outside the Karachi Press Club against the 27th constitutional amendment enforcing the ban on public gatherings under Article 144.
Police detained at least nine people as authorities sealed off all routes leading to the press club and diverted traffic to other roads, causing chaos in the city centre. Although the PTI claimed that around two dozen activists were dragged away outside the KPC, senior police officers confirmed online that nine were briefly taken into custody and later released.
Traders and shoppers in the business and shopping centers of Zainab Market, Zaibunnissa Street, Abdullah Haroon Road, Empress Market and adjacent areas were caught as innocent bystanders as the police chased unyielding protesters around one of the busiest areas of the city.
According to officials, Section 144 has been imposed across Karachi, restricting all public gatherings, rallies and processions. In anticipation of TTAP’s call for a city-wide demonstration, the police began blocking roads around the press club from the early afternoon. Heavy contingents, including women officers, were deployed at Fawwara Chowk, main entrances of KPC, Abdullah Haroon Road and adjoining streets to ensure that no group could assemble.
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Barbed wire, containers and temporary barricades interrupted routine movement, leading to a gridlock that extended to II Chundrigar Road, Saddar, Empress Market and the surrounding commercial zones. Motorists were left stranded for hours as police intercepted protesters trying to reach the demonstration site.
Witnesses said TTAP leaders and workers tried to meet again at several points, including Empress Market, Regal Chowk and Rex Centre, but mobile police units dispersed them repeatedly. Several activists were detained and moved to nearby police stations after brief chases and scuffles.
Traffic remained gridlocked across major corridors as officers and protesters engaged in repeated rounds of cat-and-mouse throughout the afternoon. Commuters faced long delays while shopkeepers in Saddar reported falling footfall due to road closures. Traffic was only restored late in the evening after the protesters had dispersed.
South SSP Mahzor Ali confirmed that nine people were initially taken into custody for violation of Section 144. “The situation remained under control throughout the day. Our priority was to prevent any illegal assembly and ensure public safety,” he said.
TTAP calls it a province-wide ‘Black Day’
Meanwhile, TTAP issued a statement declaring Friday a ‘black day’ across Sindh in protest against the 27th constitutional amendment, which the group claims undermines the constitution. Demonstrations were organized outside press clubs and central squares in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Sukkur, Larkana, Umerkot, Ghotki and other districts.
The participants tied black armbands and marched in small processions chanting slogans against what they called an ‘unconstitutional and forceful amendment’.
In Karachi, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, a key participant in the TTAP coalition, had separately announced a protest outside the Press Club. However, the heavy police presence prevented the assembly and several of its members were detained.
PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh, Karachi President Raja Azad, General Secretary Arslan Khalid and representatives of its Women’s Wing, Insaf Youth Wing, Insaf Lawyers Forum, Labor Wing and other bodies later gathered at Regal Chowk where they held a small demonstration.
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Protesters raised slogans against the 27th Amendment and demanded the immediate release of PTI founder Imran Khan. Police moved in to disperse the crowd and arrested more than two dozen activists, according to PTI leaders.
Addressing supporters, Sheikh said the amendment had “mutilated the constitution of Pakistan” and did not reflect public will. “This change, imposed by force and without public consent, is unacceptable. Imran Khan must be released immediately,” he said.
He also expressed deep concern over the country’s economic situation, saying that political instability had pushed Pakistan towards inflation, unemployment and financial deterioration. “A government that survives on a stolen mandate cannot bring reforms. Instead of serving the people, it introduces changes only to secure itself,” he told the gathering.
Condemning what he described as ‘police supremacy’, he demanded the immediate release of all detained workers. “Peaceful protest is a fundamental and constitutional right. Any attempt to suppress it must be condemned,” he said.
