Karachi: Jamaat-e-Islami says 10+ local councillors detained, later released
Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi chief Monem Zafar Khan said more than 10 union council chairmen and councillors were detained by police. The party's secretary later said all of them had been released.
- Monem Zafar Khan said over 10 elected local representatives were detained across Karachi.
- He said no reason was given for the detentions and called them an undeclared crackdown.
- Express News reported police released them after a few hours; the party secretary confirmed late at night.
Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi chief Monem Zafar Khan said police had begun an undeclared crackdown against his party in the city, with more than 10 union council (UC) chairmen and councillors taken into custody. He spoke to Express News.
According to Mr Khan, elected representatives from across Karachi were phoned from police stations and asked to come in, and were then held. He said no reason for the detentions was being given. He also said there were reports of raids at several locations.
He gave several examples. Khurshid Iqbal, UC chairman in Korangi, was visited at home in Zaman Town by a police mobile and asked to go to the station, where he was then not allowed to leave, Mr Khan said. He said councillors Athar Imam and Mujahid of Chanesar Town were called to Tipu Sultan police station and held in the same way.
Mr Khan added that Sajid Jilani, ward councillor in UC 1 of Jinnah Town, and a ward councillor from Soldier Bazaar were also detained. He said Allah Gul was being held at SITE Super Highway police station in District East.
A Jamaat-e-Islami spokesperson listed those held as Khurshid Iqbal, chairman of UC 7 Zaman Town; Adil Muhammad, vice chairman of UC 6 Gulshan-e-Iqbal; Athar Imam, councillor of UC 1 Chanesar; Javed, councillor of UC 1 Gulshan; Sajid Jilani, ward 3 councillor of UC 1 Jinnah Town; and Allah Gul at SITE Super Highway police station.
According to the spokesperson, Mr Khan condemned the arrests and demanded the immediate release of the representatives. Mr Khan described the action as a conspiracy to stop development work by the party's elected members, and said it was being carried out at the urging of what he called products of Form 47. He said arrests could not obstruct development and that a plan of action would be announced soon.
Express News reported that after strong criticism and threats of protest from Mr Khan and party workers, police released those held within a few hours. Late at night, Jamaat-e-Islami secretary Tawfiq-ud-Din said all the detained elected representatives had been freed. The reports carry no police statement on why they were detained.
Why it matters
Elected union council members in Karachi are central to local development work, and the episode involves a major party and the city's police. Residents of the affected towns may be concerned about local governance and political tension.
