A Sindh Culture Day rally on Karachi’s Sharea Faisal turned violent on Sunday after clashes broke out between participants and police, leading to shelling, arrests, and temporary road closures.
According to Karachi police, the disturbance began when officers asked rally participants to move the procession from Kala Pul towards Saddar. The crowd resisted the instructions and allegedly began pelting police vehicles with stones, breaking the glass of patrol vans and a water tanker.
Police responded with shelling to disperse the demonstrators and detained two people accused of damaging police vehicles and attacking officers.
Traffic officials said Sharea Faisal remained closed at the FTC section for several hours, with vehicles redirected from Kala Pul towards Saddar. The road was later cleared for traffic.
Sindh Home Minister Zia Lanjar took notice of the incident and contacted the Additional Inspector General of Karachi, seeking a detailed report. He ordered immediate action against all those involved and directed police to arrest individuals responsible for damaging public property.
Sindh Culture Day was celebrated across the province with the usual enthusiasm, highlighting the region’s centuries-old heritage and traditions. The day is marked every year on the first Sunday of December.
Earlier in the day, President Asif Ali Zardari said Sindh’s culture reflects tolerance, peace, and unity, and stressed the importance of passing these values to future generations. He noted Sindh’s significant historical role, including its distinct identity after separation from the Bombay Presidency in 1936 and being the first provincial assembly to support the creation of Pakistan.
