Eight Women Including Shehzadi Rai Taken Into Custody Outside Karachi Press Club
Karachi Police on Tuesday detained eight women, including leaders of Aurat March and the transgender community, outside the Karachi Press Club.
Aurat March activists and a representative of the transgender community had arrived at the Karachi Press Club to hold a press conference. However, police took them into custody before they could speak to the media.
Police officials confirmed that those detained included Aurat March leaders Sheema Kermani and Muniza Ahmed, as well as transgender community leader Shehzadi Rai, among other women.
The Aurat March leaders had reached the press club on Tuesday to address a press conference in connection with Mother’s Day. A large number of police personnel, including women officers, were already present outside the press club along with several women participants.
Women police officers detained the Aurat March organizers, placing them in police vehicles and transferring them to a nearby police station. During this time, Sheema Kermani stopped her car at the press club gate, protested the detentions, and strongly condemned the action.
Women police officers then removed Kermani from her vehicle, took her into custody, and transported her to the police station. The detentions caused a تجمع (crowd) to gather at the press club gate.
Some Aurat March participants managed to enter the press club premises. South district police officials stated that the women were detained due to concerns over a potential breach of peace.
Later, following intervention by senior officials of the Sindh government, all detained women were released. After their release, they returned to the Karachi Press Club.
