Several leaders and supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), including the party’s Sindh chapter General Secretary Dr Masroor Sial, were taken into custody following a protest near Fawara Chowk on Abdullah Haroon Road in Karachi on Wednesday. Tensions escalated when PTI activists gathered to demand the release of their imprisoned leader, Imran Khan.
Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023, facing multiple charges ranging from corruption to terrorism after being ousted from power through a no-confidence motion in April 2022. The protest was part of a nationwide campaign organized by the former ruling party to mark three years since Khan’s imprisonment and to call for his freedom.
Karachi police responded to the demonstration by baton-charging protesters and deploying tear gas to disperse the crowd at Fawara Chowk. In retaliation, PTI supporters threw stones at law enforcement officers. These clashes resulted in severe traffic congestion around key locations including Governor House, Metropole Hotel, and Shaheen Complex, significantly disrupting commuter movement.
Meanwhile, shops in the vicinity remained shut, further inconveniencing local residents and businesses. PTI Sindh chapter President Haleem Adil Sheikh condemned the police’s actions, accusing them of undermining democratic principles.
In response to the traffic chaos, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took immediate notice and instructed the inspector general of police and additional inspector general to restore normal traffic flow without delay. He also ordered the deployment of extra traffic police personnel on major routes throughout the city. The Chief Minister emphasized that the DIG traffic should personally oversee the situation to ensure smooth transit at all times.
Notably, the PTI’s campaign for Khan’s release intensified earlier this year after the former prime minister was diagnosed with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), a serious eye condition. Khan has been transported multiple times from Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad for treatment of his right eye.
However, PTI’s plea to transfer Khan to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for specialized care was denied when the Islamabad High Court dismissed a petition filed by his legal team.
