Karachi police stopped the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP) from staging a protest outside the Karachi Press Club on Friday, enforcing Section 144 and detaining several demonstrators. At least nine people were arrested as authorities sealed roads around the press club, creating heavy traffic jams in the city’s busiest commercial zones.
Police placed barbed wire, containers and barricades across central routes, disrupting movement around Saddar, II Chundrigar Road, Empress Market and adjoining shopping areas. Many traders, shoppers and office goers found themselves stuck for hours as officers chased groups of protesters attempting to gather at different locations.
Officials said the citywide ban on public gatherings was imposed to prevent any large-scale demonstrations. Heavy police contingents including female officers were positioned at Fawwara Chowk, Abdullah Haroon Road and all entrances to the press club to block any attempt to assemble.
Witnesses shared that TTAP workers kept trying to regroup at Empress Market, Regal Chowk and Rex Centre, but mobile police teams dispersed them repeatedly. Several activists were taken into custody after brief scuffles. Traffic remained paralysed for most of the afternoon and normal flow returned only in the evening.
South SSP Manzoor Ali confirmed that nine people were initially detained for violating Section 144, adding that the situation “remained under control” and the police’s priority was maintaining public safety.
TTAP Marks ‘Black Day’ Across Sindh
TTAP declared Friday a province-wide “Black Day,” accusing the 27th Constitutional Amendment of damaging the Constitution. Small scale demonstrations were held outside press clubs and major squares in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Sukkur, Larkana, Umerkot, Ghotki and several other districts, where participants marched with black armbands and shouted slogans against what they described as a “forced and unconstitutional amendment.”
In Karachi, PTI a major TTAP ally had also planned a protest outside the press club, but heavy police deployment prevented the gathering. Several PTI members were detained as they attempted to approach the area.
Later, PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh, Karachi President Raja Azad, General Secretary Arslan Khalid, and representatives from the Women’s, Youth, Lawyers, Labour and other wings gathered briefly at Regal Chowk to stage a small demonstration.
Police again dispersed the crowd and detained more activists. PTI leaders claimed more than two dozen workers were arrested.
Addressing supporters, Sheikh said the amendment had “mutilated the Constitution” and did not reflect public consent. He demanded the immediate release of PTI founder Imran Khan and warned that political instability was worsening inflation, unemployment and economic decline. He also condemned what he called “police excesses,” insisting that peaceful protest was a constitutional right.
