Imran Khan backs down from threat to shut down capital

Imran calls for celebration on November 2 in wake of apex court’s ‘historic’ verdict

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan backed down from his threat to shut down the capital on November 2, vowing instead to hold a celebratory rally about a Supreme Court decision to pursue a case linked to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been under growing pressure from opposition parties, mainly PTI, which had vowed one million supporters would shut down Islamabad on Wednesday as part of long-running efforts to force the government out of power.

"On the Supreme Court's advice, we have decided that tomorrow we will thank God and celebrate a Day of Thanks at Islamabad's parade ground," Imran said while addressing the media outside his home in Bani Gala on Tuesday as his ecstatic supporters danced to pop songs and shouted anti-government slogans. The celebratory rally is a step back from his threat to paralyse the city and the government.

Since Supreme Court has already started investigations, they asked us to call off protest, so we'll abide by that @ImranKhanPTI

— PTI (@PTIofficial) November 1, 2016

The Youm e Tashakkur would be to thank Allah for His Benevolence
For giving us such a historical Victory#سچ_کی_جیت

— PTI (@PTIofficial) November 1, 2016

Calling for a celebration to mark SC's 'historic' verdict, Imran asked all workers to gather at Islamabad's Parade Ground at 2pm tomorrow.

Supreme Court has not stopped us from protesting , we will go ahead as planned @naeemul_haque

— PTI (@PTIofficial) November 1, 2016

"I thank all those who fought this 20-year-long war against corruption with me," the PTI chief said while addressing media outside his Bani Gala residence.

Police have repeatedly clashed with protesters in recent days, detaining more than 1,000 PTI supporters from across the country since last week after imposing a ban on all public gatherings in the federal capital -- a ban later partly lifted by a court order.

I want to thank our People for this historic lcontribution to Pakistan #سچ_کی_جیت

— PTI (@PTIofficial) November 1, 2016

I salute to everyone who stood by me in my 20 years of struggle against this corrupt system. @ImranKhanPTI

— PTI (@PTIofficial) November 1, 2016

The PTI chief said he had two conditions for going ahead with his Islamabad lockdown, firstly that PM Nawaz should resign and secondly he should allow a probe into Panama Papers. "I am glad that the Supreme Court has finally directed Nawaz Sharif to present himself for accountability from day after tomorrow."

Supreme court will begin investigations on #PanamaLeaks from thursday @ImranKhanPTI

— PTI (@PTIofficial) November 1, 2016

I appreciate supreme court on their decision to investigate #PanamaLeaks @ImranKhanPTI

— PTI (@PTIofficial) November 1, 2016

The PTI chief further accused the premier of "hurting Pakistan’s development through corruption."

Urging his workers to go back home today, Imran asked his supporters to gather tomorrow to mark Youm-e-Tashakur. “We will commemorate a day of thanks tomorrow and will assemble around 1 million people in Islamabad,” Imran said, adding it was the victory of the Pakistani people, especially the downtrodden. “This is the very first time a powerful ruler is being held accountable,” he said.

The PTI chairman felicitated his workers on Islamabad High Court’s decision to remove all containers from Islamabad and demanded the Punjab chief minister release all the detained party workers. “Shahbaz Sharif, you are a coward. You arrest innocent people and throw them in jails.”

PM orders removal of barricades from Islamabad roads

Soon after PTI's announcement to postpone the Islamabad 'lockdown' the prime minister has ordered authorities to remove barricades from the roads of the capital, Express News reported.

PTI leader Andleeb Abbas released after brief detention

Earlier today, PTI leader Andleeb Abbas was released after a brief detention.

The PTI Punjab Information Secretary was arrested while she was along with 50 other party protesters was attempting to cross a checkpost.

Lahore in isbd to reach Bani Gala... pic.twitter.com/n4GjaaU4VF

— Andleeb Abbas (@AndleebAbbas) November 1, 2016

Television footage showed police firing rubber bullets at Abbas and other PTI workers, including women, as they tried to break barriers to march to Imran's residence.





Two PTI workers die after sustaining injuries in police shelling in Swabi

Speaking to The Express Tribune provincial lawmaker and PTI Peshawar region President Shah Farman claimed that two of the party's workers died allegedly due to the shelling  by police while they were on their way to Islamabad.

Holding the government responsible for the deaths, the PTI leader said police used expired tear gas on 'peaceful protesters.'

Clashes as PTI activists bear down on capital

Police in riot gear fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of PTI supporters heading for Islamabad on the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway which administration had blocked with shipping containers, concrete slabs and piles of mud.

The PTI activists threw rocks and bricks at the riot police as they charged forward in an attempt to remove the roadblocks.



At least 15 people were wounded in sporadic skirmishes between PTI workers and law enforcers — police and Frontier Constabulary —that continued throughout the day on Haroonabad bridge as helicopters flew overhead for aerial surveillance.

As dusk fell, the law enforcers fell back, allowing PTI workers to remove roadblocks with the help of cranes and excavators they had brought along and travel towards the federal capital where their party is scheduled to stage a dharna on Nov 2. Incensed marchers reportedly set at least seven police vehicles on fire to vent their anger.

Provincial government spokesperson Mushtaq Ghani, who was among the marchers, said that 15 PTI activists were wounded in skirmishes on Haroonabad bridge, located in Swabi district on the confluence of borders between Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.



The standoff started on Monday morning when hundreds of stick-wielding PTI workers, led by the leaders of the party’s provincial chapter, reached the bridge where they were challenged by riot police and Frontier Constabulary personnel.

As they faced off, riot police fired tear gas canisters filling the area with clouds of white powder. The crowd retreated with tears and mucus flowing from reddened faces. Some of them coughed and rubbed their eyes maddeningly, while others climbed down the fences of the motorway in panic. Some daring PTI workers threw smoke-emitting canisters back at the riot police, forcing them to run for water to soothe the burning sensation.

The confrontation continued throughout the day. And as the dusk fell, the law enforcers retreated, allowing the PTI workers to remove the roadblocks with the help of cranes and excavators. Provincial Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, who was leading the PTI workers, remained seated in his SUV throughout the standoff. “We have given a word to Imran Khan that we will reach Islamabad. And we will reach there, come what may,” said Muhammad Imran, a PTI activist from Nowshera, the hometown of Khattak.