Pakistan: Police Attack Protesters Objecting to Oppression in Parachinar
In various cities across Pakistan, police have resorted to shelling and baton charges against protests organized to express solidarity with the oppressed people of Parachinar, resulting in several injuries among demonstrators, local sources confirmed.
The peaceful protest in Karachi included leaders from the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM), notably Allama Hassan Zafar Naqvi, who was reportedly attacked by police and sustained injuries, necessitating his transfer to the hospital.
The air in Karachi’s Numaish Chowrangi and Razviya areas filled with smoke due to police shelling, forcing protesters to defend themselves by throwing stones at the police. The police dismantled the protesters’ camps and arrested several individuals.
The spokesperson for MWM condemned the police’s actions, labeling them as undemocratic and shameful behavior by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government. According to the spokesperson, the PPP will have to pay a political price for this action. He stated that while the PPP remains silent on the victims of Parachinar, it resorts to violence against peaceful citizens in Karachi.
Allama Hassan Zafar Naqvi announced that the protests would be further organized and expanded throughout Sindh. He emphasized that as long as the protests in Parachinar continue, demonstrations in Karachi will also persist.
It is noteworthy that in light of the blockade of the main highway and the hardships faced by the oppressed people, MWM had announced protests across the country, which have been ongoing for six days in several cities, including Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
These demonstrations were intended to be peaceful, garnering public support and advocating for the rights of the oppressed; however, the police’s use of force has escalated the situation.
