Pak Sarzameen Party's (PSP) central leadership including its chairman Syed Mustafa Kamal, were taken into custody as police foiled their bid to take their rally to the CM House. The PSP's rally "Million March" was aimed at getting their 16 demands fulfilled by the Sindh government.
But, when they crossed Finance and Trade Centre on main Shahra-e-Faisal, police resorted to baton charge, areal firing and also used water cannon and teargas shelling to disperse protesters that became battlefield between police and PSP activists for half an hour. In the meantime, Sindh government's negotiators were holding talks with the PSP leaders but failed to persuade the PSP leadership.
Those others who were taken into custody included: Raza Haroon, Dr Sagheer Ahmad, Abdul Hafeez and dozens of other party workers. The provincial government had imposed section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in the city's Red Zone hours before the Kamal-led party began marching towards Sindh Chief Minister's CM House. News channels aired footage that showed police officials pushing Mustafa Kamal into a white coloured police vehicle.
A large number of PSP workers and supporters including women and children carrying Pakistani flags attended the rally. They were also chanting slogans for their rights. PPP-led provincial government's negotiating team comprising Health Minister Dr. Sikandar Mendhro, Murtaza Wahab, and Waqar Mehdi held talks with the PSP leadership. As the negotiations ended without any conclusion, the rally began marching towards Red Zone. Police stopped it near Ayesha Bawany School by placing barriers and blockade of the road leading to the CM House.
"10 out of 16 demands have already been fulfilled," said the PPP leader Waqar Mehdi, adding that the remaining six demands would be considered after consultation with the higher authorities. He said that there are some legal impediments in some of the PSP's demands and these demands would be fulfilled after removal of legal complications. Police did not release the PSP leadership including the party chairman, till filing of this report.