Section 144 was imposed when police broke up a gathering and arrested nine people; Protests were also reported in other cities of Sindh.
Police detain Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters during a protest against the 27th Constitutional Amendment in Karachi on November 21, 2025. PHOTO: AFP
The Karachi administration prevented Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain from holding a protest in front of the Karachi Press Club against the 27th Constitutional Amendment, enforcing the ban on public gatherings under Section 144.
Police detained at least nine people as authorities sealed all routes leading to the press club and diverted traffic to other roads, causing chaos in the city centre. Although PTI claimed that around two dozen activists were taken outside the KPC, senior police officials confirmed online that nine were briefly detained and later released.
Traders and shoppers at the shopping and business centers of Zainab Market, Zaibunnissa Street, Abdullah Haroon Road, Empress Market and adjoining areas were caught as innocent bystanders as police chased adamant protesters in one of the busiest areas of the city.
According to officials, Section 144 has been imposed throughout Karachi, restricting all public gatherings, rallies and processions. Anticipating TTAP’s call for a city-wide demonstration, police began blocking roads around the press club from early afternoon. Large contingents, including female officers, were deployed at Fawwara Chowk, the main gates of the Kosovo Protection Corps, Abdullah Haroon Road and adjacent streets to ensure that no group could gather.
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Barbed wire, containers and temporary barricades cut off routine movement, leading to a stalemate that extended to II Chundrigar Road, Saddar, Empress Market and surrounding commercial areas. Motorists remained stranded for hours as police intercepted protesters trying to reach the protest site.
Witnesses said TTAP leaders and workers attempted to reconvene at multiple points, including Empress Market, Regal Chowk and Rex Center, but were repeatedly dispersed by mobile police units. Several activists were arrested and taken to nearby police stations after brief chases and confrontations.
Traffic remained paralyzed in major corridors as officers and protesters engaged in repeated rounds of cat and mouse throughout the afternoon. Commuters faced long delays, while traders in Saddar reported a decrease in traffic due to road closures. Traffic flow was not restored until late afternoon, after protesters dispersed.
South SSP Mahzor Ali confirmed that initially nine people were detained for violating Section 144. “The situation remained under control throughout the day. Our priority was to prevent any illegal gathering and ensure public safety,” he said.
TTAP calls it a ‘Black Day’ throughout the province
Meanwhile, TTAP issued a statement declaring Friday a “Black Day” across Sindh in protest against the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which the group claims undermines the Constitution. Demonstrations were organized in front of press clubs and central squares in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Sukkur, Larkana, Umerkot, Ghotki and other districts.
Participants tied black armbands and marched in small processions, chanting slogans against what they called an “unconstitutional and forceful amendment.”
In Karachi, Pakistan, Tehreek-e-Insaf, a key player in the TTAP coalition, had separately announced a protest outside the press club. However, the heavy police deployment prevented the meeting and several of its members were arrested.
PTI Sindh president Haleem Adil Sheikh, Karachi president Raja Azad, general secretary Arslan Khalid and representatives of its women’s wing, Insaf youth wing, Insaf lawyers forum, labor wing and other bodies later met at Regal Chowk, where they organized a small rally.
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The protesters raised slogans against the 27th Amendment and demanded immediate release of PTI founder Imran Khan. Police intervened to disperse the crowd and arrested more than two dozen activists, according to PTI leaders.
Addressing his supporters, Sheikh said the amendment had “mutilated the Constitution of Pakistan” and did not reflect the public will. “This amendment, imposed by force and without public consent, is unacceptable. Imran Khan must be released immediately,” he stated.
He also expressed deep concern over the country’s economic situation, saying political instability had pushed Pakistan towards inflation, unemployment and financial deterioration. “A government that survives with a stolen mandate cannot introduce reforms. Instead of serving the people, it is introducing amendments just to make sure,” he told attendees.
Condemning what he described as “police arrogance”, he demanded the immediate release of all detained workers. “Peaceful protest is a fundamental and constitutional right. Any attempt to repress it must be condemned,” he said.
