Karachi, January 11, 2026: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders went ahead with a public gathering at Mazar-i-Quaid in Karachi on Sunday despite alleged obstruction by authorities and confrontations with law enforcement. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi led the party’s street mobilisation campaign during his four-day visit to Sindh, which began with his arrival in Karachi on Friday and included tours of Hyderabad and Jamshoro.
The rally was initially scheduled at Bagh-i-Jinnah, for which the PPP-led Sindh government had issued a no-objection certificate (NOC), despite objections from the PML-N. However, the PTI alleged that police had blocked roads and delayed preparations, prompting the party to shift the venue to the VIP gate of Mazar-i-Quaid. PTI leaders shared videos showing party workers removing containers placed to block the route and negotiating with police to allow the convoy to proceed.
According to PTI, CM Afridi’s convoy faced multiple obstructions on its journey from Hyderabad to Karachi. Afridi claimed in posts on X that all routes had been blocked, forcing him and his team to travel for over seven hours on deserted roads. “The Sindh government is not only playing with my life but also with the lives of my team members,” he said, calling the treatment “extremely shameful.” Hyderabad SSP Adeel Chandio, however, denied any obstruction in Hyderabad, stating that CM Afridi left the city safely.
Upon reaching Karachi around 7:15pm, Afridi said the rally would proceed despite the challenges. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja described the alleged treatment of party members as “barbaric” and claimed that several workers had been unlawfully detained and vehicles damaged, though police sources denied detentions, stating that officers only removed workers from the Mazar-i-Quaid premises to prevent roadblock violations.
Clashes erupted at multiple points, including Bagh-i-Jinnah, where police reportedly used baton-charge and shelling to disperse crowds. Video footage aired by DawnNewsTV and shared on social media showed police vans at Bagh-i-Jinnah, with demonstrators retaliating by throwing stones. PTI claimed over a dozen workers were detained early Sunday for attempting to arrange the rally, while the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM), an ally of PTI, said its leaders had also reached Bagh-i-Jinnah to support the gathering.
The party also alleged attacks on media personnel covering the events. Aaj News reported damage to its vehicle, while DSNGs of multiple outlets were affected. PTI spokesperson Mohammad Ali Bozdar condemned the assaults, calling the media the “public’s voice” and urging authorities to take action. Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) and the Crime Reporters Association (CRA) also condemned the violence, demanding the Sindh government trace perpetrators via CCTV footage.
Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar took notice of attacks on media personnel and promised firm action against those involved, while Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon defended the provincial government, stating that security had been fully provided to CM Afridi. Memon alleged that PTI workers had not followed designated routes in Hyderabad and Karachi, causing traffic disruption, and warned against taking law into their own hands.
PTI leaders, however, maintained that the Sindh administration had deliberately obstructed the rally and delayed approvals. Party spokesperson Fauzia Siddiqui said the public would gather at Mazar-i-Quaid at 2pm, asserting that “the public power witnessed in Karachi has frightened them,” while Karachi President Raja Azhar described the rally as a “public referendum against cruelty.” PTI also alleged that roads had been blocked from Baldia Town to Gurumandir to prevent supporters from joining the caravan.
Despite tensions, CM Afridi paid respects at Mazar-i-Quaid and prepared to address party workers from a truck. Hundreds of supporters were reported gathering at Bagh-i-Jinnah, chanting slogans in support of PTI and former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Videos circulating on social media showed clashes between police and protesters, with party workers pushing aside containers and attempting to clear blocked routes.
The events highlighted ongoing friction between PTI and the Sindh government, with both sides trading allegations over police conduct, roadblocks, media attacks, and public order. While the Sindh government insisted full security had been provided and criticized PTI for not following approved routes, the party maintained that authorities were deliberately obstructing its lawful rally.
