KARACHI: As part of a crackdown against organisers of the recently held protest sit-ins in Karachi and other parts of Sindh, police have arrested another five suspects and registered 21 more cases, officials said on Monday.

The protesters, mostly belonging to the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), had staged sit-ins from Oct 30 to Nov 2 in Karachi and other districts of the province against the acquittal of Aasia Bibi in a blasphemy case.

The sit-ins had caused traffic jams and immense hardships to the people and halted the economic and commercial activities.

“During the protests, sit-ins and riots, total 39 FIRs have been lodged against 61 suspects. Of them, seven suspects have been arrested so far,” according to a report submitted to Inspector General of Police, Sindh, Dr Syed Kaleem Imam.

As many as 34 FIRs were registered in six districts of Karachi; two FIRs in Kashmore and one each in Shaheed Benazirabad, Sukkur and Ghotki.

Three of the suspects were arrested in Central district and two were taken into custody from the Korangi area.

The report stated that remaining two suspects were apprehended from Shaheed Benazirabad district on charges of rioting.

It said that of the 61 nominated suspects, 24 were nominated in South, two in Korangi, three in West and 24 in Central districts. Five suspects were nominated in Kashmore and two in Benazirabad district, the report added.

The IGP was informed that around 7,100 protesters took part in the sit-ins across Sindh.

The cost of damages to property in Central district only was estimated at Rs150,000, said the report.

Meanwhile, the IGP directed his subordinates to furnish a report regarding law and order situation across the province on a daily basis.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2018