KARACHI: Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) held a protest at Regal Chowk on Friday in response to the arrest of its leaders outside the Karachi Press Club. The police attempted to disperse the protesters using teargas and baton charges, prompting TLP workers to retaliate by throwing stones.
The protest was initially planned as a special prayer for Amir Aziz, a TLP worker who was killed in a shooting on October 13. However, tensions escalated when TLP’s Karachi leader, Mufti Qasim Fakhri, and several others were arrested near the press club. This sparked a large-scale protest at Regal Chowk, causing severe traffic disruptions in the surrounding areas.
Protesters set tires ablaze, blocked roads, and chanted slogans. In response, the police used baton charges and teargas, leading to clashes that lasted over an hour. Although the protesters eventually dispersed, the incident led to the closure of nearby markets and widespread panic. Traffic throughout the Saddar area came to a standstill.
Police officials stated that protests were prohibited under Section 144. During the clashes, a female police officer was injured after falling from a police vehicle and being run over by another.