NOV 2014: Riots

The opening day of Plan C ended with the death of a party worker .

FAISALABAD:

Street fights broke out between workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Faisalabad on December 8.

One PTI activist was killed and nearly two dozen people were injured as hundreds of PTI activists clashed with riot police armed with water cannon, teargas shells and clubs in various neighbourhoods surrounding Novelty Bridge.

Until 11am, the city had been calm as all eight main markets – Circular Road, Kotwali Road, Samundri Road, Sargodha Road, Satiana Road and Jhang Road – were open. So were all educational institutions of the city.

Then groups of PML-N workers, carrying party flags and photos of the Sharif brothers, appeared on the roads. They took control of the Clock Tower Chowk, Circular Road, Kotwali Road and Faisalabad-Jaranwala Road. They were shouting ‘Ro Imran, Ro (Cry Imran, Cry)’.

Many of the PML-N workers were armed with clubs and hockey sticks or carried bags full of tomatoes and eggs. They removed banners and posters put up by PTI activists and set those alight.

Clashes started at Clock Tower Chowk when PTI activists reached the roundabout. The two sides had a sloganeering contest followed by a physical fight. At Allied Mor, some PML-N workers tore down PTI banners and posters. Imran’s supporters then burnt down the PML-N posters and banners. Six people were wounded in these clashes.

Some PTI supporters then tried to storm Sanaullah’s residence close by several times. Each time they were pushed back by PML-N workers who threw stones and bricks at them. Riot police later baton-charged and hurled teargas shells at the PTI supporters again pushing towards Sanaullah’s residence. At least 14 people, among them three policemen, were injured in the melee.

Police also used water cannon to disperse PTI and PML-N workers, but couldn’t disengage the two sides. It was at this point that firing claimed the life of a PTI worker identified as Haq Nawaz.

Read the full year-in review here.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2014.