KARACHI, Nov 23: Over sixty activists belonging to different opposition political parties were arrested on Friday afternoon while attempting to stage an anti-government protest demonstration at Empress Market, Saddar. However, all were freed later in the day.

The protest demonstration was organised by the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) to voice dissent against the imposition of emergency rule in the country.

They had given a call for a demonstration in front of Empress Market, in view of which the city administration took pre-emptive measures and placed policemen in civilian clothing around the area. Having a fair idea of the strategy the police were likely to use, political activists moved out in small groups constituted at different locations around Empress Market in an attempt to register their protest.

Activists of the Awami Tehreek were the first to come out. Collecting and coming out from the Rainbow Centre side, they attempted to march towards the venue but were charged by the police. In the short scuffle that followed, women activists used their party flags as sticks for protection against the policemen. However, the activists were soon rounded up and around 25 were bundled away into police vans. Saeeda Gopang, a leader of the Awami Tehreek, chanted in protest against the removal of members of the judiciary and the curbs placed on the media by the current regime.

Meanwhile, from a different direction, over a dozen activists of the Jamaat-i-Islami — which is a component of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) — started their march from the Jamia Masjid Saleha in Jehangir Park.

Chanting anti-government slogans and loudly protesting the imposition of a state of emergency in the country, they moved towards the designated venue but were soon rounded up by the police in plainclothes and thrown into the waiting police vans.

The police prevented them from coming close to the venue of the planned demonstration and arrested around a dozen activists. Simultaneously, over a dozen activists of the Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party appeared on the scene to voice their protest against General Pervez Musharraf.

While chanting anti-government slogans, some of the activists turned violent and started throwing stones at passing vehicles and the shops at Regal Chowk. However, the police swooped in and picked up many Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party activists from the Regal area.

The detained workers of various political parties were taken to various police stations in Saddar town. Meanwhile, the game of hide and seek between the police and protesters continued until sunset.

The detainees were released soon afterwards, however. After fulfilling legal requirements, the police freed the 60 activists. “All the detained activists have been released after we have obtained undertakings from them,” said SSP Saddar Captain (retd) Tahir Naveed.