Tension flared outside the Sindh Assembly in Karachi during a protest staged by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI).

According to details, the party workers crossed barriers and moved forward, prompting police to resort to shelling in an effort to stop their advance. Initial talks between the police administration and a delegation of Jamaat-e-Islami ended without result. Police officials said they had received orders not to permit protesters to proceed towards the Assembly.

The police officials urged the demonstrators to call off the march, stating that permission to move ahead could not be granted. On the other side, Member of the Provincial Assembly Muhammad Farooq, Acting Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Ameer Muslim Parvez and other leaders sat down on the road. Muhammad Farooq said Jamaat-e-Islami is a peaceful party and wishes to stage a peaceful sit-in outside the Assembly. He said that every citizen has the right to go there. He assured that not even a flowerpot would be broken during the protest.

The party’s negotiation team left to hold talks with the administration; however, according to a spokesman, no responsible official was present at the site for negotiations. As a result, the team remained seated on the road waiting. Muhammad Farooq said they would continue to sit on the road and maintain a peaceful sit-in until access was granted.

Police erected barriers on all roads leading to the Sindh Assembly and deployed additional personnel. The JI spokesperson said workers were arriving in organised caravans from various districts to take part in the protest and that a show of public strength would be held outside the Assembly today.

Meanwhile, police also stopped Jamaat-e-Islami protesters at the Urdu Bazaar signal, where buses were parked to block the road. A large number of workers were present at the spot, and the situation remained tense.