KARACHI: Responding to the call of their leader, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf workers took to streets in Karachi and other cities of Sindh on Friday to stage province-wide protests, held demonstrations and marched on the regional Election Commission office in the metropolis, where they staged a sit-in against its decision to disqualify former prime minister Imran Khan in the Toshakhana reference.

In Karachi, however, the party couldn’t pull off any impressive show as the protest march remained largely quiet and peaceful and couldn’t attract a large number of people as had been witnessed in the past when on Imran Khan’s call thousands of people had gathered on roads.

In the second half of the day, PTI protesters, including women, converged outside the ECP office and staged a sit-in.

They were led by party leaders Ali Zaidi, Imran Ismail, Haleem Adil Sheikh, Khurram Sher Zama and others When the ECP announced its decision, the PTI leadership asked people of the country to come out of their homes and stage protests against disqualification of the former prime minister.

Party workers stage sit-ins in different cities against ECP decision

Tension further increased when the PTI local leadership called an urgent press conference at Insaf House.

The press conference led to announcement of immediate protest march to the ECP office in Saddar through Sharea Faisal attracting heavy deployment of police.

However, the message from the Karachi police was communicated within a few minutes and hit the news channels that they won’t allow roadblocks “in the name of any protest”.

The PTI leaders also vowed that they would stay peaceful and stuck to their commitment which kept the regular city life normal. The march reached its destination, with brief traffic gridlock on Sharea Faisal, where the workers staged a sit-in.

In Hyderabad, PTI activists, including women, blocked Hyder Chowk and staged a protest demonstration. The protesters burnt tyres on the roundabout and raised slogans against ECP. The situation led to suspension of traffic on the roads.

They vowed to raise their voice and standby their party chairman. They said Imran Khan had challenged the corrupt mafia and they were now ready to face everything. The protesters said the PTI chief was advocating the cause of masses.

In Mirpurkhas, scores of PTI workers took out a rally and held a sit-in at the press club.

Led by district president Aftab Qureshi and local leader Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah, the protesters were carrying banners and placards. They first took out a protest rally from Insaf House and marched through main roads and arrived at the local press club where they staged protest a sit-in.

In Sukkur, charged PTI workers took to the streets, gathered before Insaf House on Military Road and staged a protest demonstration. They raised slogans against the ECP decision. PTI’s provincial general secretary Mubeen Ahmed Khan Jatoi and other party leaders led the protest.

Similar protest demonstrations were held in other cities and towns of the province.

Published in Dawn, October 22th, 2022