Clash between police, PAT workers leaves over 40 injured

Tahirul Qadri's supporters vow to continue sit-in, march to the airport at all costs.

ISLAMABAD: Around 40 Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) supporters sustained injuries in a clash with the police near the Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Islamabad, as they gathered to receive their leader, Dr Tahiur Qadri.

Police fired tear gas shells to disperse Qadri's supporters who had gathered at the blockades on Expressway, the main artery that leads to the airport near Koral Chowk, early Monday morning.

PAT workers had staged a sit-in at the chowk Sunday evening and started marching towards the airport at 4am Monday morning, demanding the police to remove containers placed on the highway in order to reach the airport.

“We have to receive our leader whatever the consequences are,” Akhtar Ali, a local leader of the PAT, told The Express Tribune via telephone.

“We can spend nights under the open sky to stand united with our leader and the government should have understood our commitment. We have to reach airport whatever the consequences will be,” he added.

The clash occurred just as the sticks-wielding PAT workers, both men and women, began marching towards the airport.

“Several of our workers were baton charged and injured seriously,” Ghulam Ali, the PAT district president, said. “The police have no right to stop us from going to the airport,” he added.

Many workers also sustained minor injuries and had to be provided first aid care.

The police have blocked all roads leading to the airport at the Faizabad interchange by placing containers and trucks on the Murree Road, Islamabad Highway, IJ Principal Road and other link roads.

The police also thrashed Express News cameraman Husnain and snatched his mobile phone.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has suspended mobile phone services  in Islamabad and Rawalpindi between 7am and 1pm.

Administrations of the Quaid-i-Azam University, Federal Urdu University and other colleges have postponed scheduled exams, and will announce new dates later.