Police detain Haleem Adil Sheikh, over 20 PTI workers at Karachi Press Club protest

Police detained Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Sindh president Haleem Adil Sheikh along with more than 20 male and female party leaders and workers on Friday during a protest outside the Karachi Press Club.

The PTI had called the rally after authorities refused to allow a meeting with the party’s jailed founder, Imran Khan. A heavy police force, including a number of female staff, was deployed around the press club ahead of the protest. Roads in the area were closed. Buses, minibuses and other transport were diverted to alternative routes.

After Friday prayers, a group of women workers gathered outside the press club demanding a meeting with the party’s founder and former prime minister and calling for his release. They dispersed soon after. Later, a rally led by Sheikh managed to reach the press club and joined the protest.

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Addressing supporters, Sheikh said the party would continue its demonstrations until a meeting with the PTI founder was allowed. Workers raised slogans as more party workers and supporters also joined.

Police moved in to disperse the protest. Male and female officers detained several protesters, including Sheikh, who was taken into custody along with other leaders and workers and shifted to nearby police stations. Female party members were moved to the women’s police. The surrounding area briefly descended into a confrontation zone as police and protesters engaged in a prolonged cat-and-mouse chase. Once the arrests were completed, the police cleared the scene and opened the roads.

Speaking to reporters, PTI MPA Sajid Hussain Mir said, “The party had organized a peaceful protest seeking a meeting with Khan, but the police started detaining workers while they were already being dispersed.” He condemned the arrest of more than 20 leaders and workers, including Sheikh, adding that the party was seeking legal avenues for their release.

Also read: PTI demands meeting with Imran Khan, citing health concerns

According to the PTI Sindh spokesperson, protesters were demonstrating against the suspension of meetings with Imran Khan as police ‘took action’ against peaceful protesters and PTI leaders and detained Sheikh along with many others including Dawa Khan, Muazzam Khan, Yasir Baloch, Anwar Mehdi, Raza Yasir and more than two dozen workers. Women leaders and workers were also detained.

Sheikh and other senior leaders were shifted to Preedy police station.

SSP South Manzoor Ali confirmed that several PTI leaders and workers had been detained and said further action would be taken in accordance with the law.

Earlier during the protest, Sheikh had said that the entire nation had only one demand – permission to meet Imran Khan. He claimed that the protest remained peaceful but “the police attacked the workers”. “We will no longer tolerate this injustice,” he said.

The PTI spokesperson said protests in Sindh would continue against the suspension of meetings with the party’s founder.

In a video statement issued on X, PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh accused the police of attacking the party’s peaceful demonstration and misbehaving with the women protesters. “Our peaceful protest was attacked. Male policemen also misbehaved with the women and they will not be spared for this,” he said.

Sheikh demanded that the authorities reveal PTI founder Imran Khan’s welfare and allow party leaders to meet him immediately. “Tell us about Khan’s condition, arrange a meeting with him. Shoot us if you must – we don’t care about our own lives,” he added.

PTI’s Information Minister Sheikh Waqas Akram also alleged that male police officers had misbehaved with the women protesters, calling it “a disgrace and criminal act”.

Imran has been imprisoned since August 2023, serving a 14-year sentence on corruption charges. His party says long-term solitary confinement is against prison rules. Online campaigns have pushed the hashtag “WHEREISIMRANKHAN”.

Speculation about Imran’s possible transfer to a more restrictive facility has circulated in local media. However, a senior prison official told Reuters that the former prime minister was in good health and that no move was planned. The official declined to be named due to protocol.