KARACHI (MNN); Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Sunday lauded the people of Sindh for their support while addressing a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rally near Mazar-i-Quaid, attended by hundreds of party supporters.
The Sindh government had granted permission to PTI to hold the rally at Bagh-i-Jinnah. However, the party earlier announced that it would organise the gathering near one of the gates of Mazar-i-Quaid, citing delays in the issuance of the permit.
The rally formed part of CM Afridi’s four-day visit to Sindh, during which he is leading the party’s street mobilisation campaign.
Addressing the crowd late Sunday night, Afridi expressed gratitude to the people of Sindh and Pakistan for what he termed their respect and hospitality. He said PTI would always remember the warmth and honour shown by the people of Sindh.
However, he criticised the Sindh government, accusing it of showing disrespect towards Sindhi cultural symbols such as the Sindhi cap and Ajrak.
The KP chief minister said PTI would not allow anyone to steal its mandate, deny people their rights, or keep party founder Imran Khan imprisoned unjustly.
He urged supporters to remain ready to resist oppression and what he described as fascism, adding that whenever Imran Khan gives a call, PTI workers will respond accordingly.
During the rally, Afridi also raised slogans declaring that “every chowk is D-Chowk”.
Earlier, Tensions flared in Karachi on Sunday as clashes broke out between police and workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ahead of a planned public rally, resulting in violence, road blockades, and attacks on media personnel near Bagh-e-Jinnah and surrounding areas.
The situation deteriorated when PTI workers attempted to enter Bagh-e-Jinnah Ground, prompting police intervention. During the unrest, PTI supporters attacked a vehicle belonging to Aaj News outside the venue, injuring a reporter and a cameraman. Footage circulating on social media showed protesters pelting stones at police vehicles near Numaish Chowrangi, while law enforcement personnel responded with shelling to disperse the crowd.
Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar took notice of the incident and directed authorities to identify and arrest those responsible using surveillance and monitoring systems. He warned that strict action would be taken against anyone found disturbing law and order, asserting that miscreants would be dealt with firmly.
Both the PTI and the Sindh government condemned the attack on journalists. PTI Sindh spokesperson Muhammad Ali Baloch said the party strongly denounced violence against the media, stressing that PTI workers were peaceful and that no individual was allowed to take the law into their own hands. He added that anyone involved in attacking media representatives should face action.
Sindh government spokesperson Barrister Raja Ansari also condemned the assault, describing it as an attack on press freedom and calling for immediate action against those involved. Journalists’ bodies, including the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) and the Crime Reporters Association (CRA), strongly criticized the violence, demanding the arrest of perpetrators through CCTV footage and other evidence.
A heavy police contingent was deployed in and around Bagh-e-Jinnah Ground and the nearby Quaid-e-Azam Mausoleum ahead of the rally. Police vans, containers, and barriers were placed on major routes to control movement, leading to traffic disruptions and public inconvenience.
PTI leaders, however, remained determined to hold a public gathering at Mazar-i-Quaid. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, who is leading his party’s street mobilisation campaign, continued his journey toward the mausoleum despite alleged hurdles. The rally was part of his four-day visit to Sindh, which began with his arrival in Karachi on Friday, followed by visits to Hyderabad and Jamshoro.
PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh said the convoy was moving from Baldia Town toward Mazar-i-Quaid and that CM Afridi was expected to reach the venue by evening. He shared videos showing PTI supporters welcoming the caravan in different localities. The party also claimed that police had attempted to block the convoy’s movement, but routes were reopened with the help of party workers after negotiations.
Videos shared by PTI showed large crowds gathering at Bagh-e-Jinnah, chanting slogans in support of party founder Imran Khan. In another video message recorded en route, CM Afridi said the convoy would pass through multiple areas so that supporters could join along the way.
PTI leaders alleged that police resorted to shelling at party workers near the mausoleum’s garden area. Footage aired on television showed clashes between police and protesters, with stone-pelting from both sides. Containers placed to block roads were also seen being pushed aside by crowds at certain locations.
PTI spokesperson Mohammad Ali Bozdar said police had blocked roads and prevented workers from entering Bagh-e-Jinnah despite earlier permission granted by the government. He said CM Afridi would pay respects at the Quaid’s mausoleum and later address supporters from a truck.
The PTI also accused authorities of raiding Bagh-e-Jinnah in the early hours of Sunday, baton-charging workers and arresting several individuals involved in rally preparations. Party leaders described the actions as political victimisation and intimidation.
Meanwhile, the Sindh government rejected PTI’s allegations. Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon stated that the provincial government had respected the constitutional position of the KP chief minister and provided complete security. He said the PTI had been allowed to hold its rally but accused the party of not following agreed routes and security plans, causing traffic disruption across the city.
Memon said Karachi’s dense traffic conditions made it difficult to allow rallies on roads and urged PTI workers to adhere to government guidelines. He maintained that no one had stopped the rally from taking place at the designated ground, adding that security concerns necessitated strict enforcement of rules.
Earlier, CM Afridi claimed that routes from Hyderabad to Karachi were blocked, forcing his convoy to travel on deserted roads for several hours. He alleged that such actions endangered his life and those of his team members. However, police officials in Hyderabad denied creating any obstruction, stating that the chief minister left the city safely.
Despite the conflicting claims, CM Afridi reiterated that the rally would take place and urged Karachi residents to participate, saying the government’s actions reflected fear of public mobilisation.
