Case filed against Haleem Adil Sheikh, over 100 PTI workers after Karachi Red Zone protest

KARACHI: A case has been registered against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Haleem Adil Sheikh and more than 100 party workers after a protest in Karachi’s Red Zone allegedly turned violent, police said on Tuesday.

Police said 24 PTI workers were arrested in connection with the protest and rioting, including former members of the National Assembly Alamgir Khan and Dawa Khan.

The first information report was lodged at Artillery Maidan police station on behalf of the state over Sunday’s protest at Fawara Chowk. The case includes charges related to violation of Section 144, vandalism, rioting and other offences.

Police said around 150 PTI workers had gathered at Fawara Chowk under Sheikh’s leadership and were moving towards the Karachi Press Club. The FIR stated the protesters were carrying party flags and sticks.

Officials said the demonstrators had been informed that Section 144 was in force in the Red Zone and that they were not allowed to proceed. Police said that when they were stopped, the protesters became agitated and attacked officers with sticks and stones.

Police said additional personnel were called to the area and action was taken, during which 24 people were arrested while others fled.

The protest was organised by PTI against the increase in petroleum prices, and workers were also chanting slogans against the government.

South Senior Superintendent of Police Mahzoor Ali said police used tear gas after protesters allegedly started pelting stones at officers. He said several people, including women, were taken into custody.

The clash caused panic in the area and affected the flow of traffic for some time.

Police had also deployed heavy contingents at Numaish Chowrangi, Teen Talwar Chowrangi and Millennium Mall in Gulistan-e-Jauhar in view of possible PTI protests in other parts of the city.

The protest came after a sharp rise in global oil prices due to the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Earlier this month, the government significantly increased the prices of petrol and diesel, the two most widely used fuels, which was followed by a broader rise in inflation.

However, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reduced the petrol price to Rs378 per litre for one month and cut the petroleum levy by Rs80 per litre in what was aimed at providing relief to the public.