Karachi: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh and over 20 party leaders and workers, including five women, were briefly detained on Friday during a protest outside the Karachi Press Club, police and party officials confirmed.
The protest was held to demand information about jailed PTI founder Imran Khan’s health and to press for a meeting with him. A heavy police contingent, including female officers, was deployed to prevent disruption. Roads around the press club were blocked, and several buses were diverted.
PTI Sindh spokesperson said Sheikh, along with leaders Dawa Khan, Muazzam Khan, Yasir Baloch, Anwar Mehdi, Raza Yasir, and others, was shifted to the Preedy Police Station. Female members were taken to the Women Police Station. SSP South Manzoor Ali confirmed the detentions, saying further action would follow the law.
After negotiations led by PTI lawyers, including Insaf Lawyers Forum Sindh President Faisal Mughal, all detained leaders and workers were released. Sheikh described the protest as peaceful and condemned police action, alleging that female protesters were misbehaved with. “Our peaceful protest was attacked. We demand immediate access to Imran Khan,” he said.
PTI leaders vowed to continue protests across Sindh until meetings with the party founder are allowed. Sheikh also criticized authorities for not disclosing Khan’s condition, calling prolonged isolation a violation of prison rules.
Imran Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023, serving a 14-year sentence on corruption charges. Local reports suggest no plan for his transfer to a more restrictive facility, and officials confirm he is in good health.
