Police action against protesters: Treasury, opposition trade allegations in Sindh assembly

KARACHI: The government and opposition traded sharp accusations in the Sindh Assembly on Monday over violent clashes during recent demonstrations, with the treasury benches defending police action and condemning damage to public property, while the protesting parties accused law enforcement of excesses against their members.

Responding to a point of order by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) MPA Muhammad Farooq, Senior Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon said everyone had the right to peaceful protest but no one was allowed to block roads or attack police.

He told the House that during demonstrations in Karachi, JI workers pelted stones at police personnel despite being informed that entry into the Red Zone was prohibited. “Police officers also have families and children. Why should the public suffer because roads are blocked at will,” he asked.

The minister said protests had been held on Shahrah-e-Faisal without permission and frequent rallies and sit-ins were causing severe inconvenience to citizens. He questioned why protesters gathered outside the Sindh Assembly on a day when the House was closed, and alleged that a former assembly member had incited stone-pelting at police.

He also criticised JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, asking why he did not take oath as an MPA instead of holding daily press conferences. “The proper way to convey a message to the government is to speak in the assembly. Two-hour speeches are allowed—no one stops you,” he said, adding that street agitation was not a substitute for parliamentary engagement.

Earlier, JI’s Muhammad Farooq said his party was protesting over Karachi’s long-standing civic issues and demanding its due share of taxes paid by the megacity. He rejected allegations of violence, displaying photographs of party workers allegedly injured in police action and claiming that “not even a leaf fell” during the protest.

He said he had been detained twice within a week and urged the Sindh government to at least allow the right to protest if it could not resolve Karachi’s problems.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Shabbir Qureshi raised a separate point of order, alleging police violence against a PTI MPA and workers in recent days. Memon said the provincial home minister had already addressed the matter and tendered an apology, acknowledging that the government was “ashamed” of the incident.

He announced action against SSP Fida Janwari in connection with the case, but reminded PTI members that no apologies were offered during their tenure despite alleged political victimisation, citing arrests of leaders including Faryal Talpur, Khursheed Shah and Agha Siraj Durrani.

The session, presided over by Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah, also took up questions related to the Information Department. Memon said while laws on accountability existed, the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) had been misused in one province, referring to the wrongful detention of a journalist who was later released.

He called for a parliamentary committee to review the matter and for stricter penalties for defamation, stressing that the assembly’s primary role was legislation. “Much of what circulates on social media has no basis,” he said, adding he opposed curbs on freedom.

On media funding, the minister said there was no mechanism for direct financial assistance to newspapers; government advertisements were issued after verifying circulation. He said dailies received priority over weeklies and that private magazines operated independently in the market.

Responding to PPP MPA Asif Musa, he said the Sindh government provided grants to press clubs and journalist bodies, which then disbursed funds to journalists, and also offered medical assistance to needy journalists without discrimination.

Answering a question by PTI MPA Sajjad Soomro, Memon said only a few newspapers had strong circulation and that ABC certification by the federal government was mandatory. He added that advertisement rates were fixed by the federal government and that he had offered the All Pakistan Newspapers Society to distribute advertisements itself, but received no response despite written communication.

He said laws existed to act against fake news and further legislation would be introduced, applicable to politicians, as well. He also informed the House that the government had begun extending advertisements to digital media outlets.

The Sindh Assembly session was later adjourned until noon on Tuesday.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026