(LIVE) Islamabad protests: 'Tsunami' to advance towards Karachi after PM's resignation, says Imran
Tahirul Qadri has asked his supporters to write “go Nawaz go” on every single currency note in the country
ISLAMABAD:
As the government resorted to arresting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers including popular sound and lights operator DJ Butt, talks by both the protesting parties was suspended on Saturday.
The breakdown in talks at the month long mark has cast a shadow over the fragile stop-start negotiation process between the government and the protesting parties.
However, the government defended its crackdown on protesters, claiming only those people were being arrested who were involved in acts of violence including the attack on Pakistan Television Network building.
Read all our coverage of PTI’s Azadi March here and the Inqilab March here. Updates of the Islamabad protests from September 12 and 13, 2014, can be found here.
September 15, 02:30am
Imran Khan was able to free 15 Pakistan Tehreek Insaf workers who were being taken to police station by the Islamabad police, Express News reported.
According to details, Imran Khan while heading to his residence in Bani Gala was informed that 15 PTI workers were detained by the police.
After receiving the information Imran intercepted the police prison van near Lake View Park that was carrying 15 PTI workers.
On Imran Khan’s inquiry about the offense of those workers, police was not able to reply in a satisfactory manner.
Therefore, Imran Khan asked the police to release his workers and took them to Bani Gala.
September 14, 10:45pm
PTI chairman Imran Khan announces to visit Sindh and Baluchistan provinces after toppling the Nawaz government.
"'Tsunami' will also advance towards Karachi after Nawaz Sharif's resignation."
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September 14, 9:52pm
Imran Khan says a page has been created on PTI’s official website, Insaf.pk, where PTI workers and supporters can report about atrocities committed by policemen against them, Express News reports.
The PTI chief, while presenting governance statistics of the country, says Pakistan’s expenditure on health sector is lowest in the region.
“While 31 per cent of children in Pakistan are underweight, 44 per cent of them are suffering from stunted growth,” he says, adding that the country also has a high infant mortality rate.
Imran further claims that only 30 per cent of total expenditure on health in the country is spent by the government while the rest comes from the private sector.
The rulers were making metros and bridges instead of spending the funds on health and education, he adds.
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September 14, 9:50pm
PTI chairman Imran Khan addressing sit-in protesters.
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September 14, 8:04pm
Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Tahirul Qadri while addressing participants of 'Inquilab' March sit-in alleges that a bridge on river Chinab was built to save two sugar mills of the Sharif family, Express News reported.
"Rulers saved their sugar mills after destroying thousands of settlements," he says.
Meanwhile, the PAT chief asked his supporters to write “go Nawaz go” on every single currency note in the country.
Read the full story here.
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September 14, 7:58pm
JI Amir Sirajul Haq says 'opposition jirga' has given suggestions to resolve current political deadlock, Express News reported.
"We will advance once there is a response over our recommendations," he adds.
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September 14, 7:20pm
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khurshid Shah says those demonstrating in Islamabad do not believe in Parliament, Express News reported.
"Families in Punjab are grief-stricken because of deaths and destruction caused by floods but those protesting are celebrating," he says, adding that dialogue with protesters is government's responsibility.
Shah adds that no one can become a prime minister through 'musical shows', and that the opposition will safeguard democracy.
Meanwhile, Information Minister Pervez Rashid says Imran Khan is misleading the masses.
"Giving a deadline in front of 2,000 supporters neither brings freedom nor revolution," he adds.
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September 14, 6:44pm
Javed Hashmi says there would be a big rebellion in the country if martial law is imposed, Express News reported.
Sit-ins would bear no result, adds Hashmi.
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September 14, 3:45pm
Addressing his supporters, PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri says his workers are being tortured as he presents on stage his workers injured by what he calls “metal bullets.”
“We will take revenge from the present rulers,” Qadri adds.
Qadri alleges that 2,331 PAT supporters have been arrested in the past three days.
Express News screengrab of PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri addressing his supporters.
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September 14, 3:18pm
PTI leader Azam Swati says their sit-in will continue till Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resigns.
“We have sacrificed to lay the foundation of a ‘naya’ Pakistan,” Swati says, talking to media representatives after being released on bail.
"They arrested us on fabricated FIRs," Swati adds.
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September 14, 2:18pm
DJ Butt has also been released from Adiala Jail along with 150 other PTI supporters, Express News reports.
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September 14, 2:15pm
A magistrate court has ordered the release of PTI leader Azam Swati on bail, Express News reports.
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September 14, 12:37pm
PTI leader Azam Swati, who was arrested along with other party supporters yesterday, appears before a magistrate’s court in Islamabad’s F-8 sector.
Swati was arrested for obstructing police in the course of their duty.
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September 14, 10:41am
IG Islamabad refuses to release PTI supporters who were arrested on charges of disrupting peace, Express News reports.
He tells the district magistrate that these protesters should be put under house arrest as they had been disrupting peace in the federal capital. The IG further accuses some of the arrested supporters of attacking PTV Centre.
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September 14, 10:31am
The Islamabad High Court orders release of all arrested PTI supporters. The chief justice of IHC also issues a notice to the government and sought reply on September 17 over its decision to arrest protesters.
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September 14, 12:58am
Imran Khan appears on stage for the last time this evening. He presents his ideology for a ‘Naya’ (new) Pakistan.
“In Naya Pakistan, law will be equal for everyone, whether for the prime minister or for the common man. “
He goes on to add that they will provide education, health, food and easy access to justice. “We will allocate the most funds for education. No government has allocated as much funds as we have done in K-P. We will spend most of the money on teachers.”
It is believed that his will add to his earlier outline of a unified education system with a focus on Allama Iqbal, though not immediately clear whether these are two cogs of the same education policy.
Further, the PTI chief adds that they will implement such a local government system in which every village will have access to their own development funds, run their own schools and have greater power over services sector. To ensure that the police does not only serve the needs of the rich and powerful, a village ‘committee’ will be formed oversee workings of local police.
On the economic front, Imran Khan says as prime minister, if brought into power by the people he adds quickly, they will not seek loans. In the event of a budget deficit, Imran asks his supporters if they think he will go and ask for loans? The crowd responds in ‘No’. Imran continues that if their expenses exceed their income, they will try to cut their expenses to balance the books.
Amid reports of a baton-charge by police, Imran directs his supporters to take them on. He goes on to advise his supporters move around in groups of 100 so that even if the police tries to arrest them, the PTI supporters can "attack" the police. Imran justifies it, claiming that the police is operating illegally if they try to arrest supporters.
Imran Khan has returned below, into the container.
An Islamabad police official seems to have been apprehended by PTI supporters who rough the officer up. However, please from the PTI organising committee sees the officer being led away from the thick of supporters.
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PTI is also protesting in Karachi at Sea View and at Hyderi in North Nazimabad.
September 13, 11:58pm
PAT president Raheeq Abbasi has arrived atop the PTI container near D-Chowk following instructions from Dr Tahirul Qadri.
Abbasi says the government thought they would hold the longest joint session in the history of Pakistan and call the protesters traitors, but all it showed was that the parties in parliament were united against the people who who had gathered outside the parliament against their governance.
As the government resorted to arresting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers including popular sound and lights operator DJ Butt, talks by both the protesting parties was suspended on Saturday.
The breakdown in talks at the month long mark has cast a shadow over the fragile stop-start negotiation process between the government and the protesting parties.
However, the government defended its crackdown on protesters, claiming only those people were being arrested who were involved in acts of violence including the attack on Pakistan Television Network building.
KEY DEVELOPMENTS
- Islamabad High Court orders release of all arrested PTI supporters
- IG Islamabad fails to obey court orders, says protesters should be put under house arrest
- Both, Imran and Qadri have given supporters tacit permission to react in kind if police moves to arrest them or uses aggression
- Imran Khan has warned the government to release detained workers by Monday otherwise they will stage sit-ins outside police stations where workers are being held
Read all our coverage of PTI’s Azadi March here and the Inqilab March here. Updates of the Islamabad protests from September 12 and 13, 2014, can be found here.
September 15, 02:30am
Imran Khan was able to free 15 Pakistan Tehreek Insaf workers who were being taken to police station by the Islamabad police, Express News reported.
According to details, Imran Khan while heading to his residence in Bani Gala was informed that 15 PTI workers were detained by the police.
After receiving the information Imran intercepted the police prison van near Lake View Park that was carrying 15 PTI workers.
On Imran Khan’s inquiry about the offense of those workers, police was not able to reply in a satisfactory manner.
Therefore, Imran Khan asked the police to release his workers and took them to Bani Gala.
September 14, 10:45pm
PTI chairman Imran Khan announces to visit Sindh and Baluchistan provinces after toppling the Nawaz government.
"'Tsunami' will also advance towards Karachi after Nawaz Sharif's resignation."
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
September 14, 9:52pm
Imran Khan says a page has been created on PTI’s official website, Insaf.pk, where PTI workers and supporters can report about atrocities committed by policemen against them, Express News reports.
The PTI chief, while presenting governance statistics of the country, says Pakistan’s expenditure on health sector is lowest in the region.
“While 31 per cent of children in Pakistan are underweight, 44 per cent of them are suffering from stunted growth,” he says, adding that the country also has a high infant mortality rate.
Imran further claims that only 30 per cent of total expenditure on health in the country is spent by the government while the rest comes from the private sector.
The rulers were making metros and bridges instead of spending the funds on health and education, he adds.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
September 14, 9:50pm
PTI chairman Imran Khan addressing sit-in protesters.
PHOTO: EXPRESSNEWS SCREENGRAB
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September 14, 8:04pm
Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Tahirul Qadri while addressing participants of 'Inquilab' March sit-in alleges that a bridge on river Chinab was built to save two sugar mills of the Sharif family, Express News reported.
"Rulers saved their sugar mills after destroying thousands of settlements," he says.
Meanwhile, the PAT chief asked his supporters to write “go Nawaz go” on every single currency note in the country.
Read the full story here.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
September 14, 7:58pm
JI Amir Sirajul Haq says 'opposition jirga' has given suggestions to resolve current political deadlock, Express News reported.
"We will advance once there is a response over our recommendations," he adds.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
September 14, 7:20pm
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khurshid Shah says those demonstrating in Islamabad do not believe in Parliament, Express News reported.
"Families in Punjab are grief-stricken because of deaths and destruction caused by floods but those protesting are celebrating," he says, adding that dialogue with protesters is government's responsibility.
Shah adds that no one can become a prime minister through 'musical shows', and that the opposition will safeguard democracy.
Meanwhile, Information Minister Pervez Rashid says Imran Khan is misleading the masses.
"Giving a deadline in front of 2,000 supporters neither brings freedom nor revolution," he adds.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
September 14, 6:44pm
Javed Hashmi says there would be a big rebellion in the country if martial law is imposed, Express News reported.
Sit-ins would bear no result, adds Hashmi.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
September 14, 3:45pm
Addressing his supporters, PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri says his workers are being tortured as he presents on stage his workers injured by what he calls “metal bullets.”
“We will take revenge from the present rulers,” Qadri adds.
Qadri alleges that 2,331 PAT supporters have been arrested in the past three days.
Express News screengrab of PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri addressing his supporters.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
September 14, 3:18pm
PTI leader Azam Swati says their sit-in will continue till Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resigns.
“We have sacrificed to lay the foundation of a ‘naya’ Pakistan,” Swati says, talking to media representatives after being released on bail.
"They arrested us on fabricated FIRs," Swati adds.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
September 14, 2:18pm
DJ Butt has also been released from Adiala Jail along with 150 other PTI supporters, Express News reports.
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September 14, 2:15pm
A magistrate court has ordered the release of PTI leader Azam Swati on bail, Express News reports.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
September 14, 12:37pm
PTI leader Azam Swati, who was arrested along with other party supporters yesterday, appears before a magistrate’s court in Islamabad’s F-8 sector.
Swati was arrested for obstructing police in the course of their duty.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
September 14, 10:41am
IG Islamabad refuses to release PTI supporters who were arrested on charges of disrupting peace, Express News reports.
He tells the district magistrate that these protesters should be put under house arrest as they had been disrupting peace in the federal capital. The IG further accuses some of the arrested supporters of attacking PTV Centre.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
September 14, 10:31am
The Islamabad High Court orders release of all arrested PTI supporters. The chief justice of IHC also issues a notice to the government and sought reply on September 17 over its decision to arrest protesters.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
September 14, 12:58am
Imran Khan appears on stage for the last time this evening. He presents his ideology for a ‘Naya’ (new) Pakistan.
“In Naya Pakistan, law will be equal for everyone, whether for the prime minister or for the common man. “
He goes on to add that they will provide education, health, food and easy access to justice. “We will allocate the most funds for education. No government has allocated as much funds as we have done in K-P. We will spend most of the money on teachers.”
It is believed that his will add to his earlier outline of a unified education system with a focus on Allama Iqbal, though not immediately clear whether these are two cogs of the same education policy.
Further, the PTI chief adds that they will implement such a local government system in which every village will have access to their own development funds, run their own schools and have greater power over services sector. To ensure that the police does not only serve the needs of the rich and powerful, a village ‘committee’ will be formed oversee workings of local police.
On the economic front, Imran Khan says as prime minister, if brought into power by the people he adds quickly, they will not seek loans. In the event of a budget deficit, Imran asks his supporters if they think he will go and ask for loans? The crowd responds in ‘No’. Imran continues that if their expenses exceed their income, they will try to cut their expenses to balance the books.
Amid reports of a baton-charge by police, Imran directs his supporters to take them on. He goes on to advise his supporters move around in groups of 100 so that even if the police tries to arrest them, the PTI supporters can "attack" the police. Imran justifies it, claiming that the police is operating illegally if they try to arrest supporters.
Imran Khan has returned below, into the container.
An Islamabad police official seems to have been apprehended by PTI supporters who rough the officer up. However, please from the PTI organising committee sees the officer being led away from the thick of supporters.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
PTI is also protesting in Karachi at Sea View and at Hyderi in North Nazimabad.
September 13, 11:58pm
PAT president Raheeq Abbasi has arrived atop the PTI container near D-Chowk following instructions from Dr Tahirul Qadri.
Abbasi says the government thought they would hold the longest joint session in the history of Pakistan and call the protesters traitors, but all it showed was that the parties in parliament were united against the people who who had gathered outside the parliament against their governance.
PTI vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi called on PML-N's Sardar Mumtaz Bhutto to condole over the death of latter's sister-in-law. PHOTO: APP