Police release JI Karachi chief, Shahra-e-Faisal cleared for traffic after protest

KARACHI: Police on Friday released Jamat-e-Islami Deputy Amir Hafiz Naeem after several hours of detention. Police had earlier surrounded Idara Noor-e-Haq and took into custody Naeem and three workers, including Dr Farrukh, hours before the party was scheduled to protest against the Karachi Electric.

Earlier, following their leader’s arrest, JI workers blocked both the tracks of the Shahra-e-Faisal.

Police reached the spot and started tear gas shelling and aerial shelling to disperse protesters. More contingents of police were called in to control the situation, as protesters also resorted to pelting stones.

People were faced with great difficulty and used footpaths as alternative routes.

Police tried to negotiate with the party’s leadership to end the protest. The JI workers who were earlier protesting at the MA Jinnah road also tried to reach Shahra-e-Faisal.

At the time of Naeem's arrest, a scuffle also broke out between the party workers and police.

JI Amir Siraj-ul Haq had protested the arrest of the party leader. 

Earlier, Hafiz Naeem held a press conference, where he said that the issue is not related to the party’s protest at Shahra-e-Faisal but of going against the KE.

He said that the party does not want to disrupt the peace of the city, adding that the JI only planned to protest against overcharging of electricity consumers.

The JI spokesman said that police had blocked routes coming from and to the JI institution, adding that police mobiles and water tankers had been put in place to block the routes.

For shifting the detained workers, a prison van also reached Idara Noor-e-Haq.

Earlier while speaking to Geo News, Hafiz Naeem said that arrests have also been made in the past, adding that his party is peaceful.

He said that the party's scheduled protest against Karachi Electric corporation would be held as per schedule. 

JI Amir Siraj-ul-Haq condemned the arrests, saying that police cannot stop the party from protest through such acts.

Sit-ins, gatherings, and protests are a democratic right of people, he said.

According to the spokesman, at the time of crackdown, Hafiz Naeem was also present at the building.

The JI workers were to protest against the recent hike in the tariff of the Karachi Electric corporation (KE) today at Shahra-e-Faisal.