KARACHI: Police fired teargas shells and resorted to baton charge on Saturday to disperse Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) workers as they attempted to march toward the Sindh Assembly to stage a sit-in over Karachi’s civic issues and local body system.
The religio-political party had announced a protest outside the provincial legislature under its “Jeenay Do Karachi Ko” (Let Karachi Live) campaign, demanding urgent measures to address the city’s crumbling roads, drainage issues and civic services.
Tensions escalated when protesters tried to move past the barricades, prompting police to fire teargas and use batons to push them back.
At least one JI worker was injured during the clash, while several police personnel were hurt after protesters allegedly pelted stones.
Police also confiscated the party’s sound system mounted on a truck participating in the rally and detained at least 10 workers.
Despite the police action, several Jamaat-e-Islami workers managed to reach the premises of the Sindh Assembly, moving past barricades amid baton-charge and teargas shelling.
The situation remained tense in the area, with a heavy police contingent deployed to prevent further escalation.
A JI spokesperson told the media that the local administration placed barriers along routes leading to the Sindh Assembly, forcing protesters to stage a sit-in on a nearby road.
He added that JI leaders, including Muslim Parvez, Abdul Razzaq and Sindh Assembly member Muhammad Farooq, attempted to initiate talks with officials, but no representative from the administration was present at the venue.
Speaking to the media, MPA Farooq said party workers would continue their protest on the road.
