Violence during protest against Nasrallah’s killing leaves cops, protesters, media workers injured

Several protesters, policemen and media workers were injured on Sunday as violence erupted during a protest rally organised by the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) to condemn Israeli aggression in Palestine and Lebanon, and honour Hassan Nasrallah, the Hizbollah chief who was recently martyred in an Israeli attack in Lebanon.

The protest started at Numaish from where the marchers went to Tower where police had set up barriers to stop the protesters from reaching the US consulate on Mai Kolachi Road.

However, violence erupted as the participants attempted to march toward the US consulate to register their protest.

To stop them, police resorted to baton-charge, firing in the air and teargas shelling. The protesters retaliated by throwing stones at the police.

Two police mobile vans, a motorcycle, and some vehicles of media organisations were also damaged in the incident.

The clashes resulted in numerous injuries on both sides. According to witnesses, some media personnel were attacked while they were recording videos of the incident on their mobile phones.

A heavy contingent of the Rangers was also called in to control the situation.

According to a spokesperson for the Karachi police, policemen who were injured included Mochko SHO Inspector Bashir Wadho, ASI Shafqat of the Napier police station, ASI Sajid of the Docks police station, Constable Kareem Bux of the Eidgah police station, Constable Umair of the Garden police station, Constable Sheraz Khan of the Garden police station and Nadeem of the Nabi Buksh police station. They were shifted to a hospital for medical treatment.

As the news of violence spread, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar details from the Zone South DIG Asad Raza about the situation. He stated that journalists and ordinary citizens should be rescued, and additional police should be called to control the rioting.

The home minister directed the police to take every possible measure to uphold the rule of law and protect the lives and properties of citizens.

Talking to The News, DIG Raza said police did not stop anyone from protesting, rather, the protesters had been granted permission to hold their protest. “Specific boundaries were established where they could conduct their protest, and they were also allowed to form a delegation to present their memorandum at the US consulate,” the DIG explained, adding that when the marchers tried to head toward the US consulate, it led to firing, arson and stone-pelting against the police. In response, the police took action against the violent protesters, detaining some of them and registering cases for the disruption of public order, DIG added.

The journalist community also condemned the attacks on media persons and their properties during the incident.

Meanwhile, Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas Jafri, head of the MWM, condemned what he termed police brutality in Karachi. "By using violence against those who love the martyr of the path of Al-Quds, the Sindh government has demonstrated that there masters are America and Israel,” he remarked.

He said the Pakistan Peoples Party’s government had surpassed even dictators in violating democratic values.

Jafri added that they had sent a message to the United States and its allies that their underhanded tactics would never be accepted. "Every child of our beloved homeland stands in solidarity with the freedom fighters and oppressed people of Palestine, Lebanon and Yemen," he maintained.

Nasrallah praised

Addressing the marchers during the protest, various speakers praised the late Hizbollah leader Nasrallah for his commitment to the cause of Palestine and struggle against the Israeli oppression in the region.

According to an MWM spokesperson, the rally was led by its central leader Allama Hassan Zafar Naqvi, who in his address said that the martyrdom of Nasrallah was an irreparable loss to the Muslim world.

He termed the martyred Hizbollah chief pride of the Islamic world as he was at the forefront of defending Palestine.

The Pakistani people stood firmly with Hezbollah, he said, adding that the global institutions were indifferent, and only understood the language of power from the likes of the US and Israel.

The role of Arab countries in the Palestinian issue was criminal, and the Muslim world needed to unite to end the US and Israeli interference in the region, Naqvi said.

Allama Baqir Zaidi, another MWM leader, said Nasrallah played a key role in strengthening Hezbollah and uniting the people of Lebanon. His success in uniting Muslims and non-Muslims of Lebanon for the Palestinian cause was unforgettable, he remarked, adding that the resistance in Palestine would only grow stronger after the martyrdom of Nasrallah.