Sindh police clashes with protestors, journalists for violating section 144

Police on Sunday confronted protestors for defying section 144 during a demonstration against the extra-judicial killing of blasphemy suspect Dr Shahnawaz Kunbhar and “extremism in Sindh.”

The demonstrators had gathered outside the Karachi Press Club (KPC), for a protest organised under the “Sindh Rawadari March”, to condemn the murder of Dr Shahnawaz, who was shot dead by the police in Mirpurkhas on September 19 under blasphemy accusations, Dawn News reported.

The Sindh Rawadari March brought together progressive voices from all over the province, including human rights defenders, trade unions and feminist movements.

According to Tribune, the confrontation between law enforcement officials and protestors led to the arrest of over 100 individuals outside KPC, Metropole hostel and Jinnah Hospital.

The Karachi police also cracked down on journalists, stopping them from covering the peace march.

Simultaneously, Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) organised a counter-protest at KPC, and police halted them at Teen Talwar, near Capri cinema.

President Karachi Press Club Saeed Sarbazi claimed, “Police closed all routes leading to the press club with containers and buses, and even reporters and camera persons were not allowed entry.”

Karachi South Deputy Commissioner (DC) Altaf Sario stated that section 144 was imposed due to the risk of riots and violence not only in Karachi but also in other parts of Sindh.

Meanwhile, Senator Sherry Rehman apologised for the police crackdown on protestors outside KPC on behalf of her party.

She wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “I apologise on behalf of the party. Am told that TLP was advancing from the other side and the police were on hair trigger alert after the recent attacks on foreigners and the advise to not protest until SCO is over, but still, the situation could have been handled differently.”

“We are a democratic party, and the rights of citizens have to be protected and respected even if they were in violation of today’s 144. I have spoken on the phone from Islamabad to many who were mistreated, and I apologised and appreciate their understanding. Because this is important. Many of us are sorry and shamed. Will inform the leadership as well,” Sherry Rehman further noted.