PTI rally in Karachi encounters police resistance and barriers

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party held a rally on Pakistan Day, but faced strong opposition from police in Karachi. The event started from Empress Market with leaders like Haleem Adil Sheikh and Raja Azhar leading the march towards Mazar-i-Quaid. According to PTI, police set up multiple barricades to block their route. The party claimed that there was a heavy police presence around the Karachi Press Club. When the rally reached Mazar-i-Quaid, police allegedly used force to break up the gathering, leading to some participants being restrained. Haleem Adil Sheikh condemned the police actions, stating that PTI members were simply celebrating Pakistan Day with national flags. He criticized the Sindh government, claiming it was acting like a dictatorship and failing to address rising street crime in the city. Raja Azhar also spoke out against the police crackdown, questioning the citizens' right to celebrate the national holiday. He called the current government led by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari "illegitimate" and expressed confidence that the Pakistan Peoples Party would soon lose power in Sindh. During the rally, participants waved both Pakistani and PTI flags, chanting slogans for the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and criticizing the government's policies. The police, when contacted, explained that the security measures at the Karachi Press Club were necessary.