KARACHI: Jamaat-i-Islaami (JI) has called for protests at 50 locations across Karachi today, a day after yesterday’s riots paralysed major arteries in the city.
Confirming the planned protests, JI’s social media head Kashif Hafeez their renewed protests against K-Electric began right after Asr prayers today.
Areas where the party plans to hold protests include Malir Zone, Shah Faisal, Gulshan Zone (near Disco Bakery), Jauhar Zone (near Samama Shopping Mall), Lea Market, Garden Area, Fresco Chowk, Defence Moar, Baloch Colony, Kala Pul, Karimabad, UP Moar, Liaquatabad, Daewoo Chowrangi, Malir Press club, Katti Pahari, and Sher Shah Chowrangi.
The call for mass protests comes after yesterday’s events which saw a protest erupt into a standoff between the police and JI workers when the Karachi chapter Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman was arrested by the police.
JI workers then proceeded to block Shara-e-Faisal and other major thoroughfares causing hardship to commuters and skirmished with law enforcing authorities.
Earlier on Friday, Police detained JI Deputy Ameer Hafiz Naeem and dozens of workers including Dr Farrukh — hours before the party was scheduled to protest against the Karachi Electric corporation.
Following Hafiz Naeem’s detention, party workers also presented themselves for arrest. A scuffle also broke out between the party workers and police.
A heavy contingent of police arrived at the site, having more than 70 policemen.
Following their leader’s arrest, the 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.
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 workers were to protest against the recent hike in the tariff of the Karachi Electric corporation (KE) today at Shahra-e-Faisal.—Agencies
