Women supporters of the MQM-H gathered in front of Karachi Press Club in protest against the sealing of the MQM-H headquarters Baitul Hamza in Landhi and a crackdown on the party leadership.
More than 150 women protesters carrying placards and banners marched to the Governor’s House chanting slogans against the government and law-enforcement agencies. Police tried to stop them when they tried to approach the Governor’s House. Protesters used clubs of banners on policewomen. They also beat the six policewomen, who were there to control the mob, with kicks and blows.
The DSP Preedy and the SHO Artillery Maidan were also injured in the scuffle.
The struggle between police and protesters continued for more than an hour, but the rest of the policemen and Rangers personnel, brought in as reinforcement, stood by helplessly.
The women protesters, who were accompanied by a few members of the Haqiqi’s elders committee, after arguments with police officials, handed over a resolution to a representative from the Governor’s House.
More than 150 women protesters staged a sit-in front of the Governor’s House on Aiwan-i-Saddar Road. This created a traffic jam on the road.
The Nazim of Saddar Town, Farooq Fariya, came over there and tried to defuse the situation. The DIG Operations, Tariq Jamil, also visited the troubled spot, but left soon.
The protesters dispersed after breaking their fast at Iftar. They left on buses.
Earlier, the protesters staged a demonstration at Karachi Press Club and chanted slogans against the chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Husain. Besides other slogans, they also chanted “terrorists vacate Bait-ul- Hamza.”
Later, the protesters marched towards the Governor’s House. They faced a feeble resistance by law-enforcers. Rangers posted at a picket in front of the PIA booking office on Maulana Din Mohammed Wafai Road stood unmoved.
When the protesters reached near the Governor’s House, police blocked the both ends of Aiwan-i-Sadar Road.
Police said the women protesters came on 10-15 buses in two separate processions from Landhi and Shah Faisal Colony.
No one was arrested.