KARACHI: Several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and supporters, including Sindh General Secretary Dr Masroor Sial, were arrested on Wednesday after clashes erupted with police during a protest near Fawara Chowk on Abdullah Haroon Road.
The confrontation began when PTI workers gathered to demand the release of jailed party founder Imran Khan as part of nationwide demonstrations marking three years since his imprisonment.
Police used batons and tear gas to disperse the protesters after the demonstration turned violent, while PTI activists responded by pelting police personnel with stones.
The clashes caused severe traffic congestion in several parts of Karachi, including the areas around Governor House, Metropole Hotel and Shaheen Complex, leaving commuters stranded for hours. Shops in the surrounding areas also remained closed, disrupting normal business activity.
PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh condemned the police action, accusing authorities of suppressing democratic rights through the arrests of party workers and leaders.
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the traffic disruptions and directed the inspector general of police and the additional inspector general to restore the flow of traffic without delay.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s spokesperson, additional traffic police personnel have been ordered to key roads across the city, while the DIG Traffic has been instructed to personally supervise the situation to ensure smooth movement of vehicles.
Imran Khan has remained in Adiala Jail since August 2023 and is facing multiple cases, including corruption and terrorism-related charges, following his removal from office through a vote of no confidence in April 2022.
The PTI’s campaign for his release has intensified in recent months after the former prime minister was diagnosed with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), a serious eye condition. Khan has been taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) several times for treatment, while a request to transfer him to Shifa International Hospital for specialised care was rejected by the Islamabad High Court.
