KARACHI: The Sindh police on Saturday decided to take strict action and register cases against “illegal” sit-ins, protests and rallies that had paralysed life in Karachi for three days.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Inspector General of Police Dr Syed Kaleem Imam at the Central Police Office here.

In this connection, a case was registered by the Korangi police on the complaint of a factory watchman against over a dozen protesters who tried to forcibly shut the industrial unit and resorted to rioting on Friday.

The IGP regrets inconvenience caused to people due to sit-ins

The meeting was held against the backdrop of recent sit-ins organised by several religious parties against the acquittal of Aasia Bibi by the Supreme Court in a blasphemy case. The protests at multiple locations in the city had paralysed routine life and caused immense inconveniences and hardship to the people.

“Whatever happened during the last five days, I feel regret over it,” he said in the meeting.

He added that workers and students could not attend their workplaces and schools, respectively, due to blockage of roads.

“If any rally or protest is taken out anywhere in the Sindh province for whatever cause; be it a protest against the lack of civic facilities or other issues; without getting a mandatory permission from the district administration and other authorities, strict action will be taken against the organisers of such protests,” warned the IGP.

He said FIRs would be registered against any rally taken out without getting permission.

“Sharea Faisal will not be allowed to be blocked at any cost in future,” he said, adding that protests on highways and the Lyari Expressway would not be allowed as such rallies triggered prolonged traffic jams.

In an apparent reference to the current law and order situation in the country, the IGP directed his subordinates to put “anti-riot and reserve platoons” on red alert to meet any eventuality.

About street crimes, he “appreciated the performance” of Karachi police chief Additional IG Dr Amir Shaikh for taking steps to curb street crimes apart from actions against organised crime and drugs.

Two protesters held for rioting

A senior official told Dawn on the condition of anonymity that the police authorities decided to register cases against the organisers of sit-ins on charges of rioting and damaging property.

He said that the FIRs would be lodged on behalf of the state or on the complaint of aggrieved persons whose properties were damaged.

He said that a case had already been registered at the Korangi police station on the complaint of the watchman of a factory as around 15-16 protesters tried to “forcibly” shut the industrial unit and resorted to riots on Friday.

He said that two of the protesters had been arrested.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2018