KARACHI: Police on Sunday detained 23 PTI leaders and workers, including two former lawmakers, after they clashed with the police near Karachi Press Club (KPC), an official said.

PTI workers and supporters had gathered at the spot to hold a demonstration against rising fuel prices.

The PTI had announced a protest outside KPC at 4pm today against “rising inflation in the country and the increase in prices of petroleum products to record levels”.

But the situation turned violent, with the PTI alleging that police subjected the protesters to violence.

The PTI’s Sindh chapter shared a video on X showing policewomen dragging women.

“Women participating in the protest against inflation were beaten and arrested,” the party alleged.

But, in a video statement, South Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mahzor Ali said “some miscreants” pelted stones at police personnel, who were deployed to “control law and order”.

He added that the police responded to the pelting through “shelling and baton-charge”.

Responding to a question, the SSP asserted that the police did not employ shelling or baton-charge unprompted, but in response to the individuals pelting stones.

Later, South Deputy Inspector General Syed Asad Raza told Dawn that police had arrested 23 workers and leaders of the PTI, including two former lawmakers.

A first information report (FIR) had been registered against them on the state’s behalf, he said, adding that the FIR was registered at the Artillery Maidan police station under Sections 188 (disobedience to an order lawfully promulgated by a public servant), 186 (obstructing public servant), 149 (offence committed by member of unlawful assembly) and 147 (punishment for rioting).

He said around 100 to 150 PTI workers, led by the party’s Sindh president, Haleem Adil Sheikh, had reached Fawara Chowk on Abdullah Haroon Road for the planned protest. He claimed that they were carrying sticks along with banners.

As tried to move toward the KPC, police attempted to stop them and informed them that the Sindh government had imposed section 144, banning rallies in the Red Zone, he said. Police asked them to disperse, but the protesters resorted to violence and attacked the police party with sticks and stones, prompting the police to call in reinforcements of personnel, the DIG said.

He said the 23 arrested protesters included two former lawmakers — Dawa Khan and Alamgir Khan — and two lawyers, Maqsood Alam and Khalid Mehmood.

The PTI’s Karachi division condemned the arrests in a statement, demanded the release of the protesters and urged the Sindh High Court chief justice to take notice of the matter.

Road closures

Shortly before noon, two roads leading to the KPC had been closed, with the traffic police citing “security” reasons.

In a statement issued at 11:50am, the Karachi Traffic Police (KTP) said both tracks of Din Mohammad Wafai Road were shut.

It added that Sarwar Shaheed Road from the Coast Guard Officers’ Mess towards Angle Chowk, Karachi Press Club was also closed for traffic.

The KTP cited “security” as the reason for the closure of the routes.

Shortly after 2pm, Haleem Adil Sheikh had said the PPP-led “so-called democratic government had closed off the press club through its police”.

Sheikh stated that the PTI had called for “peaceful” protests today across Sindh, including at KPC.

“Where else should we go if not the press club?” he asked, quipping that some “favourite political parties” were even allowed to block Sharea Faisal for their gatherings.

Senior journalists also expressed their objections to the authorities blocking routes leading to the KPC.

KPC President Fazil Jamili said on X, “No more siege of Karachi Press Club. KPC is a sanctuary of free speech, not a tactical blockade.

“Every time roads are sealed, the voice of the people is stifled. Journalists must have access to their 2nd home. It’s a symbol of democracy, stop treating it like a battleground,” he stressed.

Former KPC president Saeed Sarbazi also described the situation: “All roads to the Karachi Press Club sealed — containers, barriers, and silence.

“This is how voices are suppressed. A direct assault on press freedom and democratic rights,” he wrote on X.

The blocked roads near the KPC were reopened at night, according to an alert issued by the traffic police at 9:20pm.