The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday accused the government of deliberately sabotaging a planned public rally in Karachi through deception, last-minute obstruction, and police violence, including shelling and arrests of party workers.
The allegations were levelled by PTI Sindh president Haleem Adil Sheikh, who detailed a series of events he described as a clear violation of democratic rights, which occurred during a high-profile visit by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister.
Addressing a press conference at Insaf House, Mr Sheikh called for widespread public mobilisation to secure the release of party founder Imran Khan and restore constitutional supremacy. He asserted that the struggle for the rule of law and an independent judiciary could not succeed without mass participation from the public.
He stated that KP Chief Minister Mohammad Suhail Afridi was tasked by Imran Khan to bring his message for a street movement to Sindh. Mr Afridi’s delegation reportedly included PTI Secretary General Barrister Salman Akram Raja and other ministers and lawmakers from KP, Punjab, and Balochistan.
Mr Sheikh acknowledged that Sindh Senior Minister Nasir Shah had offered full protocol to the visiting chief minister on the instructions of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. While PTI welcomed the gesture, he clarified that the party sought only its constitutional and democratic rights, not special treatment.
However, he alleged that the KP chief minister’s visit was marred by deliberate impediments. His flight from Islamabad was purportedly delayed, and upon travelling from Hyderabad to Karachi, his route was blocked, forcing a diversion via Jhirk and Thatta that left him stranded for seven hours.
Detailing the controversy over the rally’s No Objection Certificate (NOC), Mr Sheikh explained that PTI applied to hold a gathering at Bagh-i-Jinnah, depositing a fee of Rs2.5 million. He claimed that despite a public assurance on television from Mr Shah that permission was granted, the official NOC was continuously withheld.
According to Mr Sheikh, after being told the NOC would be issued, party organisers found Bagh-i-Jinnah locked on the night of Jan 10. He claimed that even after the party was called for late-night consultations and reassured that arrangements could proceed, police conducted a raid, arrested workers, damaged vehicles, and resorted to shelling at the venue.
He stated that the NOC was eventually circulated on social media after PTI announced a change of venue, but it was never officially issued to the party by the deputy commissioner. He said that despite roads being blocked and the venue sealed, hundreds of thousands of supporters reached the area, forcing the gathering to be shifted.
The PTI Sindh president reported that 12 workers were arrested on the night before the rally, with more detained on the day of the event. He questioned why the Sindh government would resort to violence after having supposedly granted permission for the public meeting.
Amid the accusations, Mr Sheikh offered an unconditional apology on behalf of the party if any PTI worker had misbehaved with media members, describing the press as a “vital pillar of society”.
He thanked the people of Sindh and leaders of the Sindh United Party for what he termed historic receptions for the KP chief minister, asserting that public support for Imran Khan remains strong despite suppressive measures.
PTI’s demands include an end to the “persecution” of Imran Khan, the withdrawal of “false cases,” and the release of senior leaders like Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Yasmin Rashid. The party also called for the restoration of family meetings for its founder and an end to alleged violence against women outside Adiala Jail.
Mr Sheikh announced that the party has called for a nationwide shutter-down strike on Feb 8, urging the public to participate peacefully to demand their rights.
He concluded by contrasting the economic policies of the previous and current administrations, alleging that funds for major Karachi projects initiated by Imran Khan, such as the Green Line and the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway, were “looted” through corruption.