LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Saturday staged mass protests across the country against the attack on former prime minister Imran Khan in Wazirabad during party’s long march.
According to details, the PTI supporters and workers have staged protests across the country in line with party’s secretary-general Asad Umar’s directions.
PTI workers staged strong protest at Faizabad chwok at Murree Road while Islamabad Police made efforts to push the protesters back into Rawalpindi limits. The protesters burned tyres and raised slogans and this process continued for hours.
The supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) clashed with law enforcers at Faizabad Interchange on Saturday, who were performing their security duties there.
Protesters began pouring in at Faizabad Interchange and pelted stones at law enforcement agencies which prompted them to fire tear gas shells in response. Protesters also burned tyres at Rawat in Islamabad and blocked the GT road which affected the flow of traffic towards Islamabad.
When the charged crowd tried to march toward Islamabad, police fired tear gas shells for dispersing them. In response, protesters pelted police with stones. The protesters burnt tyres and chanted slogans against the government and in favour of Imran Khan.
Owing the protest, Islamabad Police placed diversions for traffic moving from Murree Road Islamabad to Rawalpindi at Faizabad. Policemen remained present to guide citizens and ensured steps for the convenience of road users.
In Karachi, protesters have staged protests at MA Jinnah Road and Numaish Chowrangi against the attack on PTI chief, while a main road in Umerkot, Sindh, has also been blocked.
PTI workers are also protesting at Muzaffargarh’s Chenab Bridge, Bahawalpur and Faisalabad and they have also blocked the roads. The commuters had to face severe difficulties.
In Lahore, the PTI workers blocked the Mall Road in front of Governor Punjab, MM Alam Road and other major roads. PTI central leader Shafqat Mahmood also reached Liberty Chowk. The demonstrators have set fire to a chemical drum at Shahdara Chowk.
A large number of protesters gathered on the streets and burnt tyres and blocked major roads at 5pm.
A peaceful protest was held at the Shahdara Chowk, where a large number of PTI workers led by led by senior leader Mian Waheed Ahmed blocked the Chowk by placing containers and trucks and burnt tyres.
PTI Punjab Women’s Wing president central Dr Nosheen Amir, President Women’s Wing Najam Al-Sahar, Joint Secretary Women’s Wing Tasneem Kausar, General Secretary Ravi Town Afshan Chaudhry, Mian Khizr Hayat, and other workers participated in the PTI demonstration at Shahdara Chowk.
Condemning the murderous attack on Imran Khan, they said that Imran Khan is a true leader of the nation. Any kind of injustice against him will not be tolerated, they added. They vowed that they would continue their protest until the evildoers who attacked the leader are brought to justice.
In Gujranwala, the PTI workers’ sit-in has entered the third consecutive day at Chanda Qila Chowk. The workers of Tehreek-e-Insaf closed Chanda Qila Chowk and put up awnings. Local PTI leader Rana Bilal Ijaz is leading the sit-in on GT Road until Imran Khan’s demands are met.
The residents and commuters are facing severe difficulties due to the closure of Chanda Qila Chowk. The traffic jam caused long queues of vehicles at the GT Road.
Meanwhile, Asad Qaiser lead a protest in Swabi’s Chota Lahore, demanding justice for Imran Khan. The protestors were chanting slogans against the federal government.
Speaking to the protests, the former National Assembly (NA) Speaker said that the Pakhtuns were standing by Imran Khan and will not accept slavery.
“I will visit every city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and protest for real freedom will continue”, he added.
On the other hand, PTI workers had blocked Motorway Interchange in Peshawar,
demanding probe into attack on the former prime minister. The party workers
have blocked the railway track in Okara as a protest against attack.
