Karachi police arrest PTI workers during protest at Fawara Chowk

Karachi: Police detained several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers, including Sindh General Secretary Dr Masroor Sial, during a protest held in Karachi on Tuesday to mark Kashmir Black Day, according to the party.

The demonstration, organized by PTI Sindh at Fawara Chowk to seek the release of their incarcerated leader Imran Khan.

According to reports, police stopped the protesters at the venue and used batons to disperse the gathering before taking several party workers into custody.

PTI President for Sindh Haleem Adil Sheikh strongly condemned the arrests, describing the police action against what he called a peaceful protest as an attack on citizens' constitutional right to assemble.

In a statement, Sheikh alleged that the Sindh Police had acted against democratic norms by preventing a peaceful demonstration.

He accused the provincial government of using law enforcement agencies for political purposes and claimed that political workers were being subjected to victimization.

He further said that the detention of peaceful protesters represented "the worst example of political victimization and police excesses," adding that preventing citizens from exercising their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly was contrary to Pakistan's Constitution and the rule of law.

Sheikh demanded the immediate release of all detained PTI leaders and workers, asserting that the role of the police is to protect the public rather than serve political interests.

He also called on the Sindh government to uphold democratic traditions instead of suppressing political dissent.

According to PTI, demonstrations were being held across Sindh on Tuesday to mark Kashmir Black Day and to demand the release of the party's founder, former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Police had not issued an official statement on the detentions or the circumstances surrounding the dispersal of the protest at the time of filing this report.