Scores of people were injured and many others were taken into custody after Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) workers and police clashed in the red zone outside the Chief Minister House in Karachi, during what was supposed to be a peaceful sit-in.
According to MQM-P spokesperson, Aslam joint organizer of Karachi North UC5, who was injured in today's protest, died at Jinnah Hospital.
Aslam was injured in the police shelling and baton charge and was shifted to Jinnah Hospital who later succumbed to his injuries, he added.
According to Samaa News, police has fired tear gas shells at protestors, while at least five activists have been arrested from the scene. The trouble started after some protesters broke through police barriers near the CM House.
Police began firing tear gas after the protestors could not be persuaded to leave the area. The protest rally was already disrupting traffic in the Saddar area, clogging many roads up.
According to the MQM-P media cell many women workers, as well as members of provincial and national assemblies, got injured due to the baton-charge.
It said that senior leader of MQM-P MNA Kishwar Zahra was also injured in the clash with police.
Videos from the scenes not only show people running away to avoid tear gas but also show people being arrested while police tries to flog them.
MQM-P originally organised the rally to protest against the Sindh Local Government Act, 2021 passed by the Sindh Assembly in December.
The MQM as well as other opposition parties are calling it a black law, as it takes away all power from the local government and gives it to the provincial government.
The marchers walked along Shahrahe Faisal and instead of going towards the Karachi Press Club, they decided to head to the Chief Minister House instead. A scuffle broke out after MQM-P protestors did not care for police barricades.
MQM-P responsible for what happened today
Sindh Information Minister Saeed Ghani said that PPP was not against demonstrations but Pakistan Super League (PSL) was scheduled from tomorrow and there were security concerns.
Ghani said that MQM-P was responsible for what had happened outside CM House as the protesters had been asked to stage their protest in front of Karachi Press Club but they did not listen and turned towards CM House.
He said that all players including international players were staying in hotels around CM House so due to security concerns, the administration had to take action.
'Black day'
MQM-P Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui announced that the party would observe Thursday as "black day" over the brutal action of Sindh police against his party workers today.
He demanded Prime Minister Imran Khan to suspend the Sindh IG.
Khalid also threatened the Sindh government to release party workers otherwise his party will be free to make its decisions.
