Police crackdown fails to deter MWM protesters from resuming Numaish sit-in

Police on Tuesday cracked down on the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen’s (MWM) central sit-in at Numaish, where people have been holding a protest to express solidarity with Parachinar and Kurram Agency’s people since December 24. The situation escalated after police baton charged and tear gassed the protesters to clear the area.

During the ensuing clashes, six police motorbikes, a police post and a car were torched. The windowpanes of a police mobile were also shattered. Police detained several people on charges of rioting and took them to various police stations.

The MWM accused police of engaging in “state-sponsored oppression”, and condemned the baton charge and tear gas shelling against peaceful protesters, which included women and children.

The party held the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leadership, including PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, responsible for the violent crackdown.

The MWM claimed that one of their senior leaders, Hassan Zafar Naqvi, was injured during the police action, calling it an unjustified and heavy-handed response to their peaceful sit-in.

The MWM has been holding their central sit-in at Numaish since last week, with almost a dozen other protest sites across the city, where roads have remained blocked, causing severe problems for residents by making their daily commutes nearly impossible.

Acknowledging the public’s difficulties, Karachi police chief Javed Alam Odho had announced on Monday that all the blocked roads would be cleared by evening. Shortly, however, a clarification was issued to point out that police only intended to ensure that roads are cleared for public convenience.

The situation became more complicated after the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) announced holding sit-ins at some 60 locations across the city, stressing that the ASWJ would continue their demonstrations until the MWM’s sit-ins continue.

Pressure on police increased when the ASWJ began holding sit-ins in various parts of the city on Tuesday afternoon. While the law enforcers managed to deter ASWJ members from protesting at some locations, they were unable to stop them at several other sites.

Police then turned their focus on the MWM’s central sit-in at Numaish, where they tried to clear the roads, but clashes broke out between them and the protesters.

The situation quickly escalated into violence, with vehicles and other properties being torched, and stones being pelted, as well as baton charging and tear gassing. Police eventually cleared the roads around Numaish. District Keamari’s Anti-Street Crime Cell incharge Raja Khalid and a few other policemen were injured during the clashes.

An MWM spokesman claimed that the police crackdown was carried out to appease the opposing group, referring to the ASWJ. He said the situation had been peaceful until Tuesday morning, following which police suddenly began dismantling the MWM’s protest camps across the city.

He claimed that despite police actions, some protesters regrouped and resumed their sit-ins at the same locations, prompting another round of crackdowns, and this series of confrontations led to the deterioration of the situation.

He accused the police of targeting the MWM leadership, saying that several people, including senior leader Asghar Hussain Shaheedi, were arrested during the police crackdowns.

Police took action in several areas to restore order.

They managed to either completely disperse the protesters or restrict them to service roads in many locations to minimise disruptions to traffic movement.

The ASWJ also held sit-ins at 10 locations: Lasbela, Star Gate, Baloch Colony, Hassan Square, Orangi Town, Nagan Chowrangi, Merewether Tower, Fresco Chowk, Korangi and Gurumandir. An ASWJ spokesman said their plan to hold 60 sit-ins is under way, with some roads fully blocked while others kept open for traffic movement.

MWM back at Numaish

The MWM later resumed its sit-in at Numaish, where they blamed police for torching their protest camp and sound system, as well as protesters’ motorbikes. MWM leader Allama Mubashir Hassan accused police of setting fire to private property and causing the situation to worsen under the Sindh government’s directives.

The MWM claimed that a government delegation had met them the previous night and expressed solidarity with their peaceful protest, but the police action, reportedly on the CM’s orders, began in the morning, undermining the prior discussions. The MWM also censured the Malir police firing on protesters and injuring two youths.

Designated platforms

A spokesman for CM Shah said the chief executive has taken notice of multiple vehicles being torched during the protests being held in the city.

Shah stressed that damage to public and private property would not be tolerated under any circumstances. “Everyone has the right to protest, but harming public property in this manner is sheer incitement.”

He ordered taking legal action against those responsible for torching vehicles. “We have designated specific platforms for protests, and such actions outside of those parameters are unacceptable.”

He instructed the city police chief to take immediate steps to improve the situation and restore order. He also demanded that a detailed report on the disorder in the city be submitted to him at the earliest.