PTI convoy goes to Bagh-e-Jinnah amid claims of roadblocks

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf claimed on Sunday that authorities blocked key routes in Karachi to prevent its workers from reaching the Bagh-e-Jinnah meeting venue as the party’s convoy led by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi came to ground amid reports of clashes and detentions.

According to PTI, the convoy traveled to the venue via Lyari Expressway. PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh said in a message on X that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister along with senior party leaders would reach Bagh-e-Jinnah around 7.30 pm and convey a “special message” from PTI founder Imran Khan.

He urged party workers and supporters to reach the spot and wait for the leadership peacefully.

In another statement, Sheikh claimed that Sindh Police had placed containers at Gul Bai bridge to block the convoy of CM Afridi. He said PTI Karachi President Raja Azhar, senior leader Faheem Khan and other party workers had reached the spot, adding that the party would proceed to Mazar-i-Quaid regardless of the hurdles.

Earlier, reports said police continued to detain PTI workers at Numaish Chowrangi. Footage circulating from the area near Bagh-e-Jinnah showed protesters pelting stones at a police mobile van, with some people seen stopping the vehicle and pelting stones at it. Police responded by using shelling to disperse the crowd.

The detention of PTI workers at Numaish Chowrangi was reported to be ongoing, while the police also carried out baton charges at intervals to disperse workers who gathered at the junction. In one instance, a police officer was seen beating a worker.

Meanwhile, a PTI Karachi spokesperson said that Chief Minister Afridi, along with his convoy, would arrive in Mazar-e-Quaid shortly.

Sharjeel Memon denies allegations of obstruction

Reacting to the situation, Sindh Senior Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the Sindh government had warmly welcomed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister and provided him with full security, noting that the office of the Chief Minister was a constitutional position that deserves full respect.

In a statement, Memon said PTI’s administration had been in constant touch with the Sindh government but regretted that assurances given by the party were not honoured. He said it had been clearly communicated from the beginning that permission had been given for the demonstration, adding that it was inappropriate to level allegations against the Sindh government despite this.

He maintained that no one had prevented the PTI from holding its rally at the designated ground, but said that rallies and processions taken out on the roads were causing severe traffic disruption and inconvenience to the public.

“Karachi is a big city where even gatherings of a few hundred people create traffic problems. We want the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to end his visit on a cordial note,” he said.

The senior minister urged PTI workers not to take the law into their own hands and to follow the guidelines issued by the government. He stressed that the movements of ordinary citizens should not be disturbed and warned against offences.

Memon said security agencies had issued alerts regarding the rally and a security plan was being prepared accordingly, adding that Sindh Police had provided full security for the event. He called for compliance with government instructions and said only designated routes should be used.

He further said that the PTI had not followed the route allotted to it in Hyderabad and instead chose an alternative route. Rejecting allegations that the KP CM convoy was stopped when it was returning from Hyderabad, he said the congestion occurred at a bridge under the National Highway Authority that routinely experiences heavy traffic due to trailers and transport vehicles and there was no ill intention on the part of the Sindh government.

The government warns of security threats, claims organized unrest

Separately, Pakistan Government Sindh spokesman Raja Ansari said in a video statement that organized groups of terrorist elements were active in various areas of Karachi, harassing the public and damaging property, especially vehicles. He claimed that police personnel and media representatives were deliberately targeted.

He said that a news vehicle had been pelted with stones and that the injury to a female journalist was a deeply alarming incident and a blatant attack on press freedom.

Ansari further alleged that the PTI was trying to create chaos and disorder in major cities under an organized Indian agenda and claimed that there was also evidence of Afghan terrorist elements operating under the guise of political rallies. He called for immediate action to stop what he described as anti-government activities.

He urged the Sindh government to take effective and impartial measures to protect life and property, ensure safety of journalists and maintain law and order in Karachi.

Meanwhile, the Karachi Press Club (KPC) expressed serious concern over incidents of violence against journalists and vandalism of media houses’ vehicles and DSNG units during the PTI rally at Bagh-e-Jinnah.

In a statement, KPC president Fazil Jameeli, secretary Aslam Khan and members of the governing body said clashes between PTI workers and police during the demonstration led to violence against journalists, which they termed as a direct attack on press freedom.

The statement condemned the attack on journalists, cameramen and DSNG operators as well as damage to media vehicles, calling it highly condemnable and against democratic values.

The Karachi Press Club demanded immediate identification of those involved and strict legal action against them, along with compensation for the losses suffered by the concerned media houses. It urged the Sindh government and law enforcement agencies to take effective steps to ensure safety of journalists in future.