PTI workers clash with LEAs as protests continue

The protest demonstrations continued for the second day in different areas of the garrison city against the assassination attempt on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

Clashes between the PTI workers and the law-enforcement personnel continued for the second day at the Faizabad Interchange while the police resorted to heavy shelling to disperse the protesters.

Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Wasiq Qayyum and other party leaders also participated in the protest.

Following the instructions issued by the PTI leadership, the workers reached Murree Road and tried to enter the federal capital through Faizabad at which the Islamabad police and FC officials first instructed them to go back with the help of loudspeakers.

As the protesters approached the Faizabad Interchange, they started pelting stones at the police which was responded to with heavy shelling by the FC officials and the federal police.

The protesters kept running towards Murree Road and surrounding highways to avoid shelling. The clash between the LEAs and the protesters continued for an hour after which the protesters gathered on the roadsides to avoid the heavy rain in the twin cities.

On Saturday, the protestors participating in the demonstration completely blocked the traffic going to Faizabad from Murree Road and from the IJP Road to Islamabad due to which the citizens faced severe problems.

As the situation in Faizabad became tense, all business centres were closed while the passengers at the bus stands faced serious problems due to shelling. The protest demonstrations were led by Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Wasiq Qayyum, MNA Sheikh Rashid Shafiq, and former provincial minister Raja Rashid Hafeez.

Talking to the media, Qayyum said that the demonstrations will be held by closing all entrances and exits of Rawalpindi and Islamabad for three days. “Our men and women are on the streets with children. A planned attempt was made to kill our leader. Our people are standing in constant shelling in Faizabad. 40 to 50 of our workers were arrested on Friday,” he said, demanding the announcement of snap polls.

On the other hand, the PTI workers also staged a protest at Chak Bailey Road in the Rawat area. The protesters completely blocked the traffic coming from Lahore to Rawalpindi by burning tires and kept shouting slogans.

At Manga on the Murree Expressway, the PTI workers staged a protest for four hours and completely blocked the traffic to and from Murree due to which the citizens faced severe difficulties.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2022.