ISLAMABAD: A large number of PTI supporters took to the streets to lodge their protest against the assassination attempt on party chairman Imran Khan.
Clashes erupted between the PTI workers and the police in Faizabad, the sources said, adding that the police used tear gas to disperse the protestors.
FC arrests several protestors from Faizabad
Following the violent protest and clashes, the FC arrested several activists of the party from the Faizabad Bridge.
In a statement, the Islamabad Capital Territory Police (ICT) said that the protestors are gathered at Faizabad in Rawalpindi. The police feared that armed men could be present among the protestors, adding that the demonstrators were pelting stones at the police.
Earlier, the PTI leadership said that Khan’s workers and supporters would start protesting after Friday prayers.
The party is holding demonstrations in major cities across Pakistan including Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar, Malakand, Rajanpur, Bahawalnagar, Muzaffargarh, and Kohat, among others.
Police baton-charge protestors in Karachi
The police baton-charged protesters and fired tear gas shells at the protesters on Shahrah-e-Faisal to ensure their dispersal.
The PTI’s supporters were staging protests against the assassination attempt on Khan near Jinnah Hospital Mor. The police also took several protestors, including women into custody.
Due to the clashes, the lane between Jinnah Hospital Mor to Metropole signal has been blocked for all kinds of traffic. Another track leading from Saddar police station to the Metropole signal has also been blocked.
Situation in Lahore
Protestors in Lahore held demonstrations against the federal government. Earlier, PTI workers and supporters vandalised public property outside the Governor House’s gate at Lahore’s Mall Road resulting in a traffic jam before ending the protest, as the police reached the spot.
Earlier, some PTI supporters jumped the Governor House’s gate while holding PTI flags in their hands and placing them on the gate, while others tried to trespass barriers placed by law enforcement. Meanwhile, lawyers of the Insaf Lawyer’s Forum also gathered at the venue earlier.
Demonstrations have affected traffic at Lahore’s Thokar Niaz Baig and Shahdara Chowk, as well as at Mall Road’s GPO intersection.
Demonstrations are also being held at the Maulana Zafar Ali Khan intersection in Wazirabad, where PTI workers have blocked the traffic moving from Lahore to Islamabad.
In Lahore, the party’s workers and supporters are being led by Senator Ejaz Chaudhry.
Other cities
In Quetta, party workers are protesting at the Mannan Chowk where provincial leaders are also present.
In Hyderabad, supporters are protesting at the Haider intersection, while protesters are also gathered in Tharparkar’s Kashmir intersection.
Traffic has also been closed due to protests at the Milad intersection in Lodhran.
Workers are demonstrating at the Main Bazaar in Mansehra, while protests are also being held in Orakzai’s Ghilju Bazar Anjani, Feroze Khel, Headquarters intersection, and Buland Khel areas.
In Gujrat, various areas have been closed to traffic, while PTI workers have blocked the Shaheen Bypass Road.
In Bahawalnagar, protests are taking place in Rafiq Shah, while in Rajanpur, supporters are conducting a sit-in at Chowk Allahabad, Rojhan, Fazilpur, and Jampur.
In Rajanpur, PTI workers have blocked the Sindh-Punjab border by burning tyres, which has caused a long queue of vehicles stuck in traffic.
In Peshawar, protestors are gathered at the Motorway Interchange. They are raising slogans against the federal government and in favour of Khan.
More to follow…