Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) workers were holding a demonstration outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) office in Karachi when police intervened and dispersed the gathering.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) South, Mahzoor Ali, said police only cleared the area and did not arrest anyone. “No JI workers were arrested or taken to the police station,” he said.

Earlier, JI MPA Muhammad Farooq insisted on holding a press conference outside the ECP office. “This is not the house of a king. There will be a press conference,” he told reporters, warning of protest if stopped.

Also Read: Basant festival to expand to other cities, says Punjab CM

After their release, JI leaders addressed a press conference at Idara Noor-e-Haq. JI Karachi acting Emir, Muslim Pervaiz, strongly criticized the PPP-led Sindh government.

He accused what he called the “form 47 regime” of repeatedly violating the Constitution. “The Constitution allows us to express our opinion everywhere,” he said.

Pervaiz claimed the provincial government violated the right to free expression by briefly taking JI leaders into custody during the press conference.

He announced that Jamaat-e-Islami will hold a sit-in outside the Sindh Assembly on February 14. The protest, he said, will go ahead “under all circumstances” against the “incompetence” of the Sindh government and its control over Karachi’s institutions.

Also Read: Gallup Pakistan: 73% support sending Pakistani troops to Gaza

Speaking after his release, MPA Muhammad Farooq accused the Sindh government of using “fascist tactics” and claimed that 19 JI workers and officials were detained.

He said the move was aimed at stopping the planned February 14 sit-in, adding that it showed fear and an anti-democratic mindset.