Following the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, a wave of riots and arson incidents engulfed Karachi over the past three days, as revealed by the police.
According to police reports, on May 9, two buses and two water tankers were set ablaze in the city, along with a prisoner van that was torched on Shaara Faisal. Additionally, more than two dozen motorcycles were burned in various parts of the city.
Further details provided by the police indicate that protesters vandalized several vehicles and set fire to the Rangers post at the nursery on May 9. On May 10, the unrest escalated when protesters ignited a police mobile on University Road, resulting in the unfortunate loss of 10 lives, including the Superintendent of Police (SP) and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), with several police personnel sustaining injuries.
The extent of vehicle burnings in Karachi over the three-day period is yet to be fully determined as investigations are ongoing.
Karachi Police Chief has declared that those involved in the protests on Shaara Faisal will be apprehended and brought to justice.
As per the police, more than 10 cases have been registered, including charges of arson, rioting, and interference in government affairs. The list of approximately 400 individuals named in the cases includes PTI leaders Aftab Siddiqui, Raja Azhar, Khurram Sher Zaman, and others. Over 250 individuals, including PTI leader Ali Zaidi, have been arrested in connection with the incidents.
Speaking about the aftermath, DG Parks Karachi, Junaidullah, lamented the damage caused to the city’s greenery. He revealed that the protests on Shaara Faisal resulted in the destruction of over 70 trees, highlighting the environmental impact of the unrest.
