Karachi's JI emir arrested after party attempts sit-in against KE

The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Karachi chapter Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman was arrested near Karachi's Islamia Science College as the party attempted to stage a sit-in on Sharea Faisal against what it termed a 'nexus' of K-Electric and the government, DawnNews reported.

"We will not give up our democratic right to protest," Rehman said while addressing the media before his arrest took place.

"We have directed our workers to continue with the protests in their area," he further said.

Following the arrest, party workers tried to stage a sit-in on Sharea Faisal and clashed with the police. Law enforcement forces resorted to teargas shelling to disperse the crowd.

The protesters blocked both sides of Sharea Faisal and caused significant hardship to commuters using the route.

A link road to Sharea Faisal, Shahrah-i-Quaideen also witnessed a protest by JI workers. The road was blocked by the workers and a heavy police contingent was deployed to the area.

JI Sindh Emir Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui claimed around 25 party workers were arrested along with Karachi Emir Naeemur Rehman from the party's head office.

"Police is arresting our workers from different areas but I do not have the exact number. They have also dismantled our camps," Siddiqui said.

"But we will keep fighting for the rights of Karachi."

A heavy contingent of police was deployed around the party's offices in Karachi to prevent anyone from entering or exiting the premises, DawnNews reported, citing a JI spokesman.

The party had announced a campaign against KE by staging protests across the city, denouncing the ‘high tariff’ and ‘exorbitant billing’ being collected by the KE from the people for the past five years.

Superintendent Police Gulshan Fahad Ahmed said an 'illegal gathering' of the JI camp on Sharea Faisal had been removed and three people arrested.

"All persons gathering at Sharea Faisal in an unlawful assembly of five or more people will be immediately arrested and First Information Reports registered," he added.

Earlier, the SP had said that all efforts were made to prevent the JI sit-in. "However, the organisers have not paid any heed to the request by the police department, so the police is left with no choice other than coercive action."

He claimed the police would attempt to stop the "illegal gathering" peacefully.