Nationwide protests against attempt on Imran’s life

KARACHI/LAHORE/ISLAMABAD:

Supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan staged nationwide protests on Friday, a day after he survived an assassination attempt, blocking key roads in major cities and triggering clashes with security forces.

Imran Khan survived the assassination attempt on Thursday with bullet wounds in the incident, rocking the nation already racked by turmoil due to political instability.

The party has called for the protests to continue until its demand for political change was met.

In Lahore, where the PTI chief is undergoing treatment, protesters gathered on streets and burnt tyres and blocked major roads.

They also gathered outside the office of the Punjab governor and reportedly pelted the gate with stones, destroying security cameras and barriers. Some PTI supporters also jumped the Governor House’s gate and installed PTI flags on the gate, while others tried to trespass barriers placed by law enforcement.

The party's workers and supporters were led by Senator Ejaz Chaudhry. Meanwhile, lawyers of the Insaf Lawyer’s Forum also gathered at the venue earlier.

Demonstrations have affected traffic at Lahore’s Thokar Niaz Baig and Shahdara Chowk, as well as at Mall Road’s GPO intersection.

Tear gas

Television channels showed police using tear gas in Islamabad to disperse protesters who had blocked roads.

At Faizabad Interchange, PTI workers pelted stones at FC and Islamabad police personnel, forcing the law enforcers to fire tear gas shells to disperse the demonstrators. The police also took custody of two PTI workers.

The protesters blocked the road leading up to Faizabad, causing problems for the people travelling to Islamabad.

"Today, after Friday prayers, there will be protests across the country, which will continue until Imran Khan's demand is met," PTI General Secretary Asad Umar said on Twitter.

Imran’s supporters also began pouring onto the streets at the place where he was shot and urged the former premier to resume his march on Islamabad.

Meanwhile, after a brief pause, protests at Faizabad resumed with police claiming that the protesters have started setting trees and plants on fire.

‘Armed protestors’

Islamabad Police said that "armed" protesters have blocked the road, adding that the police were identifying such elements.

"Capital Police have started taking action against those who are taking the law into their own hands," it added.

The police also claimed that they have received complaints about protesters looting valuables from people on motorcycles and cars.

The police of the federal capital have asked the Rawalpindi administration to stop protesters from carrying out "illegal actions" while protesting at Faizabad. They added that protesters had pelted police with stones and were carrying sticks and slingshots.

Meanwhile, PTI leader and former human rights minister Shireen Mazari has said that protesters were stopped by police at Lahore Cantt.

"Peaceful protesters stopped at Lahore Cantt. Punjab Police comes in front line to protect Cantt against peaceful PTI protestors," she said.

PTI women workers also protested against the firing incident in front of the Islamabad Press Club.

Traffic alert

Meanwhile, Islamabad Police have diverted traffic from Faizabad due to protests.

"Traffic coming from Faisal Avenue to Faizabad is diverted to Srinagar Highway," it said in a traffic alert.

It said that traffic coming from Murree Road to Faizabad is diverted to Srinarage Highway from Rawal Dam Chowk whereas traffic arriving from IJP Road to Faizabad is diverted to 9th Avenue at 9th Avenue Signal.

The alert said that traffic coming from Koral to Faizabad is diverted to Lehtrar Road via Khanna Pull.

Karachi

Karachi Police baton-charged and fired tear gas shells at the protesters on the city's crucial artery to ensure their dispersal.

PTI MPA Raja Azhar Khan sustained injuries due to the police’s baton charge and stampede on Shahrah-e-Faisal. He vowed to move court against SSP South.

“Shelling and rubber bullets cannot bring down our morale,” he added.

As per media reports, Sindh Police resorted to baton-charge and tear gas shelling to disperse the protesters on Sharea Faisal in Karachi. The protesters pelted stones at the law enforcers as they tried to prevent them from reaching Metropole Hotel.

The police managed to restore traffic on Sharea Faisal after battling with the protesters for two hours. The road from Baloch Colony to Metropole has been cleared for traffic.

According to Sindh Police, 20 PTI workers were detained during the protest including women.

Peshawar

In Peshawar, PTI workers protested on the Islamabad motorway. Traffic coming and going towards the capital got stuck due to the protest.

The protest also caused gridlocks on GT Road and Ring Road. According to media reports, citizens including women, children and the elderly were stuck due to the PTI protest.

As per reports, PTI supporters gathered at Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's (K-P) Peshawar Toll Plaza. All workers of the Peshawar district are expected to protest at the toll plaza.

Rawalpindi

Similarly, the GT Road from Chakbeli Mor in Rawalpindi was blocked as violent protests erupted against the assassination attempt on the PTI chief.

A heavy presence of both motorway police and district police were present at the protest venue.

Moreover, protesters have also set tyres on fire and blocked the road. As a result of the blockade, passengers from both sides of the road are facing problems.

PTI workers have also started gathering outside the Allama Iqbal Park in Rawalpindi. Party MNAs Ali Nawaz and Khurram Nawaz are also present at the venue.

In Quetta, party workers protested at the Mannan Chowk where provincial leaders are also present.

In Hyderabad, supporters protested at the Haider intersection, while protesters also gathered in Tharparkar's Kashmir intersection.

Traffic were closed due to protests at the Milad intersection in Lodhran.

In Gujrat, various areas were closed to traffic, while PTI workers blocked the Shaheen Bypass Road.

In Bahawalnagar, protests took place in Rafiq Shah, while in Rajanpur, supporters staged a sit-in at Chowk Allahabad, Rojhan, Fazilpur, and Jampur. In Rajanpur, PTI workers blocked the Sindh-Punjab border by burning tyres, causing a long queue of vehicles stuck in traffic.

Lawyers protest

Lawyers in Punjab observed a strike in District Kachhari on an appeal of the Punjab Bar Council. As a result, all courtrooms were empty after 10am.

They boycotted court proceedings and hearings of cases were adjourned without a proceeding.