PTI chief Imran Khan and PAT leader Tahir ul Qadri led tens of thousands of supporters from Punjab to Islamabad in a bid to bring down Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, whom they accuse of rigging elections and corruption.
The protests have piled extra pressure on the 15-month-old Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government already struggling to overcome high unemployment, daily power cuts and terrorism.
Police in Punjab arrested 147 supporters of Imran and Qadri overnight to prevent them joining the protests in Islamabad, said Inspector Rana Hussain in the central town of Sargodha.
Imran had said on Monday he would lead protesters into the capital's Red Zone today.
The government has previously said protesters are not allowed to enter the area. It is flooded with riot police and paramilitary forces and cordoned off with shipping containers and barbed wire.
Qadri has said he will meet his supporters later on Tuesday to consider whether to march alongside Khan. Their protests have so far remained separate because the two have different supporters and plans for what should happen if Nawaz steps down.
COMMENTS (1)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1732240377-0/mac-miller-(1)1732240377-0-405x300.webp "article")
1732225542-0/logan-(1)1732225542-0-165x106.webp "article")
1732240636-0/WhatsApp-Image-2024-11-21-at-19-54-13-(1)1732240636-0-270x192.webp "dozens massacred as gunmen ambush convoy in kurram")
Unbelievable to see Nawaz Sharif's "heavy mandate" unraveling so quickly, once again.