Around 400 people booked for ‘violent rally’ on Sindhi Culture Day

KARACHI: Karachi police have registered an anti-terrorism case against 400 people for taking out a “violent rally” on Sindhi Culture Day on Sunday.

The FIR was registered under terrorism charges after one of the several rallies taken out in Karachi on the Sindh Culture Day turned violent.

Police used tear gas and detained 45 participants when they attempted to move towards the Red Zone via Shahrah-e-Faisal. Twelve of those detained were later released.

According to police, participants of the rally attacked law-enforcement personnel, prompting baton charge and the use of tear gas.

The FIR stated that a case has been registered against 12 people arrested on the spot and 300 to 400 unidentified individuals.

The case has been filed under Pakistan Penal Code sections 147, 148, 149, 341, 144, 324 (attempted murder), 186, 353, 427, and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (punishment for terrorist acts).

The complainant, Inspector Abdul Majeed Abro, said that he and other police personnel were present near the Finance and Trade Centre (FTC) flyover around 2:30pm on Sunday when a rally of 300 to 400 people on motorcycles and in vehicles was moving from the airport side towards Saddar.

He said that because Section 144 had been imposed across the province — restricting public gatherings — police tried to stop the rally participants.

However, the participants allegedly blocked the main thoroughfare from both sides and began pelting police with stones and firing shots.

He said that the rally participants also damaged vehicles passing by, including a rescue ambulance and a police mobile, and raised “anti-state slogans”.

Police then used tear gas to prevent further damage to property.

Sindh Culture Day, observed on the first Sunday of December every year, was first celebrated in 2009. Various political parties, social groups, civil society, and government institutions organise seminars, discussions, folk music shows, theatre performances and literary gatherings to showcase Sindh’s culture and history.

Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar took notice of Sunday’s incident and ordered immediate action against those involved.

DIG South Syed Asad Raza said that law-enforcement officials had asked participants to move towards Saddar and later the Karachi Press Club via Lines Area, but they insisted on taking Shahrah-e-Faisal through Jinnah Bridge.

He said that when stopped, they allegedly pelted police with stones, injuring five officers, after which tear gas was used to disperse the crowd.

Asked why the FTC flyover was blocked, the DIG said instructions had been issued due to expected congestion, as multiple rallies and cultural processions were likely to gather at FTC before attempting to proceed to KPC via Shahrah-e-Faisal.

He said that around 10 to 12 rallies arrived from different parts of the city and about 17,000 to 18,000 participants reached Fawara Chowk near Karachi Press Club.