Activists and leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) staged a protest sit-in at the Kutchery Bazaar Chowk Faisalabad on Sunday. Anjuman Talaba-i-Islam (ATI), Sunni Tehreek, Majlis Wahdatul Muslemeen, Pakistan Falah Party, Anjuman Tajiran and Sunni Ulema Board also joined the protest.
The participants vowed to continue their sit-in until the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The protesters first marched on various city roads and then converged on the Kutchery Bazaar Chowk.
MPA Shaikh Khurram Shehzad of the PTI, Malik Elahi Bux of the SIC, Rana Imran Sultan (SIC), Qari Muhammad Mateen of Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslemeen, Bashir Ahmad of the PML-Q, Allama Abid Qamar Naeemi of the Sunni Ulema Board, Muazzam Sahi of ATI, Azam Raza of Pakistan Falah Party, Nasir Naqshbandi of the Sunni Tehrik, Inaamur Raheem, Chaudhary Faiz Ullah Kamoka, Mumtaz Kahlon, Rana Ali Abrar, Dr Asad Muazzam, Mumtaz Ali Cheema, Rana Sikandar Azam Khan participated in the protest.
Speaking on the occasion, MPA Shehzad said that the government was involved in the torture and murder of protesters.
“The present government came into power through rigged elections. Therefore, it has no validity,” he said.
“When the people of Pakistan raised their voice against the rigging, the government used brute force to crush them. The government also ordered the police to resort to shelling and subject the peaceful protesters to severe torture,” he said.
“Despite the protests in all parts of the country, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is still adamant that he will not resign,” he said.
“When the media showed the people what was happening in Islamabad, the government ordered police to beat up journalists,” he said.
Kamoka said that PTI and PAT workers were beaten up by police. “The government should realise that such tactics cannot crush the voice of the masses, who are protesting for their legitimate rights,” he said.
“The atrocities being committed by the government against its own people has damaged the country’s image in the international community,” he said.
“The protest movement started by the PTI and the PAT has spread to other cities of the country. These protests will continue until the government resigns,” he said.
Dr Asad Muazzam said that they would continue their sit-in at Kutchery Bazaar Chowk till the PM resigned from his post.
“The PTI and the PAT will continue these protests against this fake and illegal government,” he said.
Policeman beaten up
The protesters beat up a policeman at Kutchery Bazaar Chowk.
City Police Officer (CPO) Dr Sohail Habib Tajik told The Express Tribune that PTI and PAT activists had attacked ASI Muhammad Akram.
“Akram received serious injuries to his face and head. He was taken to the Divisional Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital by Rescue 1122. The doctors are providing him medical treatment there,” the CPO said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2014.
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