Police fire tear gas and charge protesters at Numaish Chowrangi

Police have opened shelling on protesters of a religious party at Numaish Chowrangi, Karachi, leaving several individuals severely injured.

According to GTV, members of the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) had been staging a protest for more than 80 days over road blockages in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa district of Parachinar.

During the protest, police resorted to shelling and baton charging, resulting in injuries to prominent scholar Allama Hassan Zafar Naqvi.

The protest had been ongoing due to the extended closure of roads, and today, the police suddenly started shelling, arresting three individuals. In response, protesters threw stones at the police.

The police also dismantled the protest camp, which protesters have condemned as an act of state terrorism.

Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah took notice of the situation and instructed the Additional IG to improve the circumstances.

The spokesperson for the Sindh Chief Minister emphasized that damage to public and private property would not be tolerated.

They also stated that while everyone has the right to protest, damaging property is an act of incitement. Legal action would be taken against those responsible for setting vehicles on fire, and the government had designated specific platforms for protests.

Earlier, Additional Inspector General (AIG) of Police had warned that if the protests did not end by night, the authorities would clear the roads according to the law.

AIG Javed Alam Odho stated in a press conference that blocking roads in the name of protest was inappropriate, and that strict action would be taken after sunset.

MWM leader Allama Hassan Zafar Naqvi strongly condemned the police action, accusing them of attacking peaceful protesters, including children and the elderly.

Speaking at a press conference in Karachi’s Numaish area, Naqvi said that while they had left space for traffic during the protests, the police still launched an assault on the demonstrators despite their peaceful conduct.