KARACHI: The Sindh government on Tuesday banned rallies, political gatherings and processions across the province under Section 144 of the criminal procedure code just a day before the scheduled sit-in and protest plans of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in different parts of the province.

A notification issued by the Sindh home department announced the curbs across the province, banning meetings, processions, rallies and public gatherings with immediate effect for a month.

The PTI-Sindh, meanwhile, stood undeterred and vowed to stage a protest as announced at designated spots of different cities across the province.

In a statement issued by the PTI-Sindh, it announced spots of demonstrations in all major cities of the province with one in Karachi at the Numaish traffic intersection; outside the Sukkur Press Club, Hyderabad’s Hyder Chowk.

“Protest demonstration in Larkana will be held at Tank Chowk; Shiraz Chowk in Nawabshah; Post Office Chowk in Mirpurkhas; Allah Wala Chowk in Umerkot and a protest demonstration will be staged at DC Chowk in Jacobabad,” said the statement.

Police briefly detain 18 protesters

Immediately after imposition of the ban, the police were quick to move to thwart an attempt by civil society activists to march on Chief Minister House for the recovery of missing Baloch activists.

Some 18 members of the civil society were detained and later released by the police without registering any case.

“Prof Nida Kirmani was among 18 people who were detained for taking out a rally from the Karachi Press Club to CM House,” said a police official.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2022