KARACHI: A planned protest campaign by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) in different city areas on Sunday was disrupted after police deployed personnel at several locations, blocked roads and detained a number of party workers and leaders.

The protest, organised in response to a nationwide call by the party, was planned at seven points across Karachi.

The PTI said its demonstrations were aimed at demanding the release of party founder Imran Khan, upholding the Constitution and rule of law, respecting the public mandate and raising concerns over inflation and economic difficulties of the people.

Heavy police force was deployed at the proposed protest points, while roadblocks and other security measures affected movement in parts of the city.

Activists manage to gather at several points in Karachi to register protest against Imran Khan’s continued incarceration

The PTI workers, however, staged demonstrations in several districts, including Korangi, Karachi East and West.

In Korangi, the protest was led by PTI Karachi president Faheem Khan, PTI Sindh additional general secretary Rizwan Niazi and Sindh Assembly member Owais Chaudhry. Following the protest, party workers and leaders also held a rally.

A separate PTI demonstration was planned near Empress Market, where a considerable number of women were also reported to have participated.

The protests came despite police measures aimed at preventing gatherings at various locations.

The Karachi Press Club and areas falling within the “Red Zone” were also sealed as part of the security arrangements.

The move affected public movement in surrounding areas, with residents and motorists facing difficulties in navigating parts of the city.

The PTI claimed that police detained more than 75 of its leaders and workers from different parts of Karachi and shifted them to various police stations. The party also claimed that women were among those detained.

The party further alleged that arrests were made in other parts of Sindh, including Sukkur and put the total number of detained PTI leaders and workers across the province at more than 100.

PTI-Sindh spokesman Muhammad Ali Baloch strongly condemned the police action, describing the arrests and restrictions on political activity as an attempt to suppress peaceful political expression.

He criticised the Pakistan Peoples Party-led Sindh government, saying political workers should not be arrested for raising demands related to Imran Khan’s release, constitutional supremacy, respect for the public mandate and relief from rising inflation.

He said the right to peaceful protest was protected under the Constitution and called for the immediate release of all detained PTI leaders and workers.

He also criticised the “sealing of the Karachi Press Club” saying restrictions on the venue and other areas amounted to curbs on freedom of expression.

The PTI leader said that their demonstrations were peaceful and expressed the resolve that the party would continue its political struggle through constitutional and legal means.

When contacted, a senior police officer refused to comment on PTI allegations.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2026