A day after the People’s Amn Committee (PAC) held a demonstration outside the US Consulate in Karachi, the Sindh government on Wednesday imposed Section 144 in the city for a period of 30 days, prohibiting all kinds of gatherings.
Hundreds of citizens, mainly Baloch residents of Lyari under the banner of PAC, had gathered at the US Consulate to protest recent statements from US officials, criticising the role of Pakistani intelligence agency in supporting insurgents in Afghanistan. Taking ‘notice’ of the anti-America demonstration, the Sindh Home Department issued a notification on Wednesday, enforcing Section 144 in Karachi and barring all political gatherings for a period of one month.
Well-placed sources told Pakistan Today that the one-month ban would help the provincial government in controlling street agitations and contain a growing sense of resentment against the US’ ‘threats to the country’s sovereignty’. “Street protests against the US will further aggravate the situation and government’s move was taken in view to steer the country out of the present crisis.”
The sources said that President Asif Ali Zardari took notice of the PAC protest and instructed the provincial authorities to ban gatherings until tensions between Pakistan and the US cool down. Under the presidential instruction, the Home Department issued the notification to bar gatherings of more than five persons. However, religious meetings and funerals were exempted from the ban.
The protest by PAC was the first such demonstration after recent strains in Pak-US ties.
The rally was led by ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) local leader Zafar Baloch. The protesters were able to remove all hindrances leading to the consulate building and even hoisted flags at the barricades surrounding the US Consulate. It is worth noting that the PAC is allegedly backed by the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and former home minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza had openly confessed supporting the PAC activists.
It appears that the PPP after being able to bring a protest on record from its own supporters does not want others to follow suit and garner the support of masses.
