FIR lodged against participants of Sindh Culture Day rally under terror charges

An FIR has been filed under terrorism charges after one of the several rallies held in Karachi on Sunday to celebrate Sindh Culture Day turned violent, authorities revealed on Monday.

In observance of Sindhi Culture Day, different rallies were taken out in Karachi, which later turned violent. According to the police, the rally participants attacked personnel, as the participants were prevented from entering the red zone area at Sharea Faisal. The police took strict actions against the participants and responded with baton charges and tear gas shelling.

According to the FIR, the case has been registered against 12 named individuals arrested at the rally and an estimated 300–400 unidentified participants.

The case has been filed under multiple sections of the law, including Sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 341 (wrongful restraint), 144 (joining armed unlawful assembly), 324 (attempted murder), 186 (obstructing public servants), 353 (assaulting a public servant), 427 (mischief causing damage) of the Pakistan Penal Code, along with Section 7 (terrorism-related acts) of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).

The complainant, Inspector Abdul Majeed Abro, stated that he and other police officers were stationed near the Finance and Trade Centre (FTC) flyover on Sharae Faisal at 2:30 pm on Sunday, when a rally of approximately 300–400 participants on motorcycles and in cars emerged from the airport direction, moving toward Saddar.