Eight social activists, including Sheema Kermani, a leader of the Aurat March, were detained by police outside the Karachi Press Club, however, they were released a few hours later.
According to reports, police in Karachi’s South district took into custody eight women, including leaders of the Aurat March and the transgender community, as they arrived at the press club to hold a press conference.
Details indicate that when the activists reached the venue to address the media, police detained them before they could speak. Authorities said those taken into custody included Sheema Kermani, Muneeza Ahmed, and transgender rights activist Shehzadi Rai, among others.
The Aurat March leaders had gathered on Tuesday to hold a press conference in connection with Mother’s Day. A large number of police personnel, including women officers, were present outside the press club at the time.
Women police officers escorted the organizers into police vehicles and shifted them to a nearby station. During the operation, Sheema Kermani stopped her car at the club’s gate and protested against the detentions, strongly condemning the action.
Police officials later said that the women were detained due to concerns over a potential law and order situation.
Subsequently, following intervention by senior officials of the Sindh government, all detained women were released and later returned to the press club.
