Taking notice of a scuffle between resident of Lyari, a strong vote bank of the PPP, and law enforcement officials during a protest, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani ordered the Sindh home minister to resolve the problems of the people of Lyari on war footing.
The clash occurred when the people of Lyari tried to head towards the Sindh Chief Minister’s House to protest against the government.
At least 20 people were injured and over 50 arrested during the protest.
Thousands of protesters, including women and children, got infuriated when police baton-charged them on their way to the CM’s House.
The protesters subsequently attacked officials, forcing them to resort to aerial firing and shelling to disperse the demonstrators.
The protesters refused to turn back and started damaging public property in the area. They also smashed windows of cars and beat passers-by.
The protest ended three hours later when police allowed a delegation of protesters to go to Bilawal House to lodge their complaint.
Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wasan later briefed PM Gilani on the situation in Lyari. After listening to the problems of area residents, the PM directed the home minister to resolve all the genuine issues on war footing and ensure security of life and property to them. Per reports, the residents of Lyari had launched the protest against the Sindh government.
“We are workers of PPP and we cannot afford to be deprived of our rights,” senior PPP leader from Lyari Zaffar Baloch said.
He said they were going to Bilawal House to register their protest but some people, who always tried to keep Lyari residents away from the party, asked the law enforcement officials to baton-charge the protestors.
“We want jobs, security of life and property and development in Lyari and being workers and supporters of the PPP, it is our right. The government should ensure provision of resources and security of life and property to the residents of Lyari,” he said. He also demand an early release of arrested people.
Talking to Pakistan Today, PPP Karachi President Syed Faisal Raza Abidi condemned high handedness of PPP workers and supporters. “In the rein of PPP-led democratic government, it is shameful that police baton-charged, shelled and fired at our workers,” Abidi added.
Karachi South Deputy Inspector General of Police Shaukat said the CM’s House, Governor’s House and Bilawal House were red-zone areas and no one was allowed to protest in the red-zone.
He said PPP leaders were informed last night that Lyari residents would not be allowed to protest inside the red-zone. He said the roads leading towards the red-zones were blocked by placing containers and the police would remove the containers after the return of protesters to their houses.
The Lyari people were used by preceding and are being used by present day governments as 'footballs.' Why? Dont they have a right to equal civic facilities? That is why they have resorted to violence and harboring gangsters. The Lyari citizens must be treated with equality, respect and love. Salams
They don't have equal rights because they vote for the wrong people. Its a democratic country, what you vote is what you get.
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