Ain’t over yet: Protests by PTI workers erupt across the Punjab
Slain party worker laid to rest in Faisalabad .
BAHALWALPUR/MULTAN/FAISALABAD/LAHORE:
Hundreds of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf workers attended the funeral prayers for Haq Nawaz, a party worker, who was shot dead at Novelty Bridge on Monday. Nawaz was laid to rest at Siddiquia Qabristan in Peoples Colony in Faisalabad.
Atta Muhammad Khan, elder brother of the deceased, claimed that his brother was killed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz workers. He said it was unfortunate that the people nominated in the case registered with the police had not been arrested. “We will not bow before government brutality... our sacrifice is for justice and equality,” he said.
Later during the day, PTI workers staged a sit-in in front of the City Government Complex and chanted slogans against the government. The protesters shouted Go Nawaz Go and Qatilon ko Giriftar Karo. PTI Punjab president Ejaz Chaudhry arrived at the sit-in and stayed for an hour. He said the government was acting like criminals.
The protest continued for more than four hours after which the protesters dispersed.
Chaudhry later addressed a press conference where he demanded the immediate arrest of politicians who had been nominated in the murder case. He said the case had been registered under the Anti Terrorism Act.
“The police are duty-bound to investigate all facts in the incident.” He said Rana Sanaullah said he had investigated the case and found his body guard innocent, “but Sanaullah is not the competent investigating authority”.
Chaudhry said the PTI had asked their workers to remain peaceful. “It was when the PML-N goons attacked our workers that the situation turned ugly,” he said. The PML-N believed in using state machinery to terrorise all those who opposed their dictatorial rule, he said.
Lahore
Hundreds of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) supporters gathered on The Mall on Tuesday in response to a call for holding a protest demonstration against the killing of a party worker in Faisalabad a day earlier.
PTI leaders and workers also offered funeral prayers for Haq Nawaz who was shot dead during clashes between PTI and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers on Monday.
The protesters staged a sit-on on The Mall resulting in traffic chaos. After the prayer in front of Masjid-i-Shuhada, they burnt tyres on The Mall.
PTI leaders Abdul Aleem Khan, Saloni Bukhari and Zarka Taimur led protesters who chanted slogans against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Khan told the media the government’s attitude had forced their workers to resort to protests across the country. He said the government had been accusing the PTI of creating a chaos perpetrated by its own workers.
“There is no shred of evidence against us. We had taken traders and citizens into confidence before giving a call for the shut down [of Faisalabad].”
Khan said that if the government did not give up its current strategy for dealing with the protests, the PTI would intensify its movement and would not even spare what he called the palaces of Lahore.
He said all PTI wings, including the Insaf Students’ Federation, women, youth and lawyers, had been mobilised after party chairman Imran Khan had given a call to shut down Lahore.
“We will not create any law and order situation. We are peaceful and will remain peaceful,” Khan said. He requested the judiciary to take suo motu notice of the Faisalabad unrest.
South Punjab
PTI workers gathered at Almas Chowk in Uch Sharif and held a demonstration. They were led by PTI city president Abdul Qadeer Khan and party leader Pir Khan Niazi. Traffic in the area was suspended for several hours. They said the government had failed to protect citizens.
Addressing a sit-in in Rahim Yar Khan, PTI district president Rana Raheel Ahmad said, “We salute Haq Nawaz and condemn the government’s incompetence and brutality.”
In Bahawalpur, around 300 PTI workers staged a demonstration at Farid Gate in Bahawalpur. They held funeral prayers and blocked traffic for three hours. They carried placards and banners inscribed with slogans lambasting the government.
In Multan, civil society members, lawyers and PTI’s political allies joined party workers at demonstration in the city. Lawyers observed a strike at the courts. PTI leaders in Multan said they had asked student to organise demonstrations as well.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 10th, 2014.
Hundreds of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf workers attended the funeral prayers for Haq Nawaz, a party worker, who was shot dead at Novelty Bridge on Monday. Nawaz was laid to rest at Siddiquia Qabristan in Peoples Colony in Faisalabad.
Atta Muhammad Khan, elder brother of the deceased, claimed that his brother was killed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz workers. He said it was unfortunate that the people nominated in the case registered with the police had not been arrested. “We will not bow before government brutality... our sacrifice is for justice and equality,” he said.
Later during the day, PTI workers staged a sit-in in front of the City Government Complex and chanted slogans against the government. The protesters shouted Go Nawaz Go and Qatilon ko Giriftar Karo. PTI Punjab president Ejaz Chaudhry arrived at the sit-in and stayed for an hour. He said the government was acting like criminals.
The protest continued for more than four hours after which the protesters dispersed.
Chaudhry later addressed a press conference where he demanded the immediate arrest of politicians who had been nominated in the murder case. He said the case had been registered under the Anti Terrorism Act.
“The police are duty-bound to investigate all facts in the incident.” He said Rana Sanaullah said he had investigated the case and found his body guard innocent, “but Sanaullah is not the competent investigating authority”.
Chaudhry said the PTI had asked their workers to remain peaceful. “It was when the PML-N goons attacked our workers that the situation turned ugly,” he said. The PML-N believed in using state machinery to terrorise all those who opposed their dictatorial rule, he said.
Lahore
Hundreds of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) supporters gathered on The Mall on Tuesday in response to a call for holding a protest demonstration against the killing of a party worker in Faisalabad a day earlier.
PTI leaders and workers also offered funeral prayers for Haq Nawaz who was shot dead during clashes between PTI and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers on Monday.
The protesters staged a sit-on on The Mall resulting in traffic chaos. After the prayer in front of Masjid-i-Shuhada, they burnt tyres on The Mall.
PTI leaders Abdul Aleem Khan, Saloni Bukhari and Zarka Taimur led protesters who chanted slogans against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Khan told the media the government’s attitude had forced their workers to resort to protests across the country. He said the government had been accusing the PTI of creating a chaos perpetrated by its own workers.
“There is no shred of evidence against us. We had taken traders and citizens into confidence before giving a call for the shut down [of Faisalabad].”
Khan said that if the government did not give up its current strategy for dealing with the protests, the PTI would intensify its movement and would not even spare what he called the palaces of Lahore.
He said all PTI wings, including the Insaf Students’ Federation, women, youth and lawyers, had been mobilised after party chairman Imran Khan had given a call to shut down Lahore.
“We will not create any law and order situation. We are peaceful and will remain peaceful,” Khan said. He requested the judiciary to take suo motu notice of the Faisalabad unrest.
South Punjab
PTI workers gathered at Almas Chowk in Uch Sharif and held a demonstration. They were led by PTI city president Abdul Qadeer Khan and party leader Pir Khan Niazi. Traffic in the area was suspended for several hours. They said the government had failed to protect citizens.
Addressing a sit-in in Rahim Yar Khan, PTI district president Rana Raheel Ahmad said, “We salute Haq Nawaz and condemn the government’s incompetence and brutality.”
In Bahawalpur, around 300 PTI workers staged a demonstration at Farid Gate in Bahawalpur. They held funeral prayers and blocked traffic for three hours. They carried placards and banners inscribed with slogans lambasting the government.
In Multan, civil society members, lawyers and PTI’s political allies joined party workers at demonstration in the city. Lawyers observed a strike at the courts. PTI leaders in Multan said they had asked student to organise demonstrations as well.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 10th, 2014.