Supporters of the previous prime minister are marching to the capital, Islamabad, demanding his launch from jail.
A minimum of one police officer has been killed and dozens of individuals injured in Pakistan as supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan have clashed with safety forces exterior the capital, Islamabad, officers and Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) get together say.
Authorities enforced a safety lockdown for the previous two days within the nation after Khan referred to as for the march on parliament and a sit-in to demand his launch.
On Monday, one police officer was shot and killed, at the least 119 others have been injured and 22 police automobiles have been torched in clashes simply exterior Islamabad and elsewhere in Punjab province, provincial police chief Usman Anwar stated. Two officers have been in essential situation, he added.
The PTI stated scores of its employees have additionally been injured within the rally to this point.
Inside Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated these chargeable for the demise of the police officer would face justice.
Talking on the funeral of Constable Muhammad Mubashir in Rawalpindi, Naqvi stated it’s not the primary time law enforcement officials have been killed throughout political protests.
“Final time too they assaulted … our personnel who have been martyred, and right this moment we needed to have one other funeral once more,” Naqvi informed the media.
“Those that referred to as the protesters, they are going to be held chargeable for this demise. We won’t spare anyone, and there can be instances registered towards all of them.”
The protest march, which Khan has described because the “ultimate name”, is certainly one of many his get together has held to hunt his launch since he was jailed in August final yr.
His get together stated the jailed chief’s third spouse, Bushra Bibi, and a key aide, Ali Amin Gandapur, who’s the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, led the march that arrived simply exterior Islamabad on Monday night time.
“Bodily, it has been very difficult to continuously journey on this chilly, however our spirits are excessive, and we look ahead to attain our vacation spot later tonight,” PTI chief Asim Arbab informed Al Jazeera on arriving on the entry level to Islamabad.
Islamabad shut down
In response to the PTI’s requires protests in Islamabad, the federal government imposed measures equivalent to shutting down town’s entry and exit factors and imposing web blackouts. Delivery containers have been used to dam main roads and streets within the metropolis, and police and paramilitary personnel patrolled in riot gear.
Officers and witnesses stated all public transport between cities and terminals had additionally been shut down within the jap province to maintain away the protesters, and gatherings in Islamabad have been banned.
All faculties within the capital and the adjoining metropolis of Rawalpindi, which have been closed on Monday, may also stay closed on Tuesday, authorities stated.
Naqvi stated safety forces confirmed “excessive restraint” in confronting the protesters, a few of whom he stated had fired reside rounds whereas police used rubber bullets and fired tear fuel canisters.
“It’s straightforward to reply a bullet with a bullet,” he stated.
However Khan’s get together accused the federal government of utilizing extreme violence to dam the protesters and stated a whole bunch of its employees and leaders had been arrested.
“They’re even firing reside bullets,” certainly one of Khan’s aides, Shaukat Yousafzai, informed Geo Information.
Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif informed Geo Information TV that the federal government had held talks with PTI leaders to settle down the state of affairs, “nevertheless it didn’t yield any outcomes.”
Sayed Zulfi Bukhari, a senior PTI chief and shut aide to Khan, categorically rejected Asif’s assertion and stated no form of negotiations had occurred with the federal government.
“We now have entered Islamabad, and there’s no want for us to speak to the federal government,” he informed Al Jazeera.
“Our calls for should not unreasonable in any respect, and it’s one thing that each citizen of Pakistan ought to ask for.”
