Punjab reacts to attack on PTI chief

Protesters throng Liberty Chowk, Press Club Chowk and several other places

LAHORE:

Following an armed attack on the former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan protests erupted in all major cities of Pakistan on Thursday.

A large number of party workers, supporters and citizens from different walks of life took to the streets against a brutal attack on Imran Khan’s container of the Haqeeqi Azadi March in Wazirabad.

On the call of the local party’s leadership, a large number of people gathered in Liberty Chowk, Lahore Press Club Chowk, Shahalam Chowk, Johar Town, Thokar Niaz Baig, Babu Sabu, Grand Trunk Road, Lahore Ring Road, Shahdara Chowk and other areas of the provincial capital. Angry protestors chanted slogans in favour of their beloved leader Imran Khan and prayed for his quick recovery.

Protesters strongly condemned the assassination attempt on Imran Khan and chanted slogans against the Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) -led Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government.

The charged mob also burnt tyres and blocked roads for all types of traffic to register their protest. A large number of citizens also gathered outside the Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital in Lahore where their beloved leader was admitted for medical treatment. They also chanted slogans against “the imported regime”.

Similarly in Faisalabad, a large number of PTI workers and supporters gathered at D-Type Pul, outside of the residence of Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah against the assassination attempt on their party chief. They chanted slogans against the interior minister and the PML-N government.

Addressing the charged crowd, PTI leader Farrukh Habib said people had taken to the streets and were ready to give a strong answer to the imported rulers who were here to protect their looted money. “Public has taken to the streets to save the country, while these imported rulers are trying to save their rule and corruption”, he added.

A large number of protestors also gathered in Faizabad Chowk, Rawalpindi. Angry protestors chanted slogans against the government and attempted to go violent as police fired tear gas on PTI workers to disperse them.

Awami Muslim League Chief Sheikh Rasheed also announced to lead a big rally in Rawalpindi on Friday (today) to register a protest against the assassination attempt on Imran Khan. PTI workers and supporters staged demonstrations in Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir, while the former speaker of the National Assembly Qasim Suri announced a complete shutter-down strike in Balochistan.

Protests were also witnessed in Karachi and various cities of K-P province.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2022.