Protests break out across the country after Faizabad crackdown

Religious activists emerge in Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and other cities against crackdown in Islamabad

PESHAWAR/ LAHORE: Protests broke out all across the country on Saturday as the government started taking action against Faizabad sit-in protest in Islamabad, Express News reported.

As soon as the news of the action against Tehreek-e-Labbaik protesters spread in the country, a number of people came out on streets and blocked the Karachi’s Hasan Square roads. Meanwhile, a few unidentified people made the Orangi Town’s markets close down.

Due to protests also in Teen Hatti and Star Gate areas of the metropolis, the traffic situation has worsened while law enforcers have used tear gas to disperse the protesting activists.



In Punjab, the protestors blocked the Silakot-Wazirabad road and burnt tires to protest against the action. Rawalpindi district bar council’s advocates blocked the city’s Katcheri Road to denounce the crackdown against Faizabad protestors.

An untoward incident occurred in Daska, when protestors started pelting stones on the police deployed to contain the emerging protest. Resultantly, a DSP was injured and taken to the hospital.

In Lahore, people are staging sit-in outside Data Darbar and have blocked Metro Bus service, causing inconvenience to regular commuters.

At least 250 people were arrested by police in Lahore after protests broke out in some 16 places of the city. SSP Operations Muntazir Mehdi has issued orders to arrest the protesters on sight.
Protesters have gathered in city's Imamia Colony, Shahdara, Thokar Niaz Beg, Mall Road and other areas to denounce the government action against Faizabad sin-in protest.

Near Lahore's Shahdara Police Station, four vehicles including a police mobile van have been set on fire by the enraged protesters. Three protesters who were injured during clashes with the police have been shifted to Shahdara Teaching Hospital.



Protesters have also gathered outside Punjab Assembly, chanting slogan and holding up posters. Religious scholar Ashraf Asif Jalali and other leaders are also present.

PHOTO: EXPRESS

To restrict the movement of the protesters, police have blocked entry and exit points of major thoroughfares including M-2 Motorway and Multan Road of the city.

Rangers called in Lahore to control situation

Punjab government has sought help from Punjab Rangers in order to control the worsening situation in the city.

According to Express News, four companies of Rangers have been controlled in to contain the protestors that have spread all across the city.

Protests also started in Faislabad and Toba Tek Singh where people have blocked the Samandari Road by burning tires. Police everywhere are engaging the protesters and have fired teargas in a few places to disperse them.

In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s (K-P) Peshawar many religious groups have taken to the streets against baton charge on sit-in at Islamabad. The protestors are moving towards Provincial Assembly from Peshawar Press Club.

Leaders who are leading the protest said that federal government has committed a shameful act by using force on peaceful protestors. A large number of policemen have been deployed going alongside the protesting rally to control any untoward situation.