Protests hype all over Pakistan on ECP’s decision against Imran Khan

Web Desk (LTN NEWS): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers protesting against the disqualification of party leader and former Prime Minister Imran Khan clashed with police in different parts of Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Friday.

Police and PTI workers fought at Faizabad Interchange, outside the election commission office, and other places in the red zone close to the diplomatic enclave, Parliament House, and the Supreme Court. They also fought on IJ Principal Road and the Islamabad Expressway, among other places.

Hundreds of PTI workers gathered in Faizabad and tried to march to Islamabad, but they were stopped by a group of police who fired tear gas shells to scatter them.

When a large group of PTI workers led by Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Wasiq Qayyum tried to get into Islamabad from the Faizabad side, Islamabad police at the intersection opened fire, forcing the angry workers to run away.

Read Imran Khan disqualifies in Toshakhana case for 5 years

The protesters threw rocks at the police and hit them with sticks for several hours as the fight continued. The police fired heavy shells back at them.

Because of protests, different parts of Murree Road, Islamabad Expressway, IJP Road, GT Road, and Motorway were closed. This caused much trouble for people, including patients, drivers, and travelers.

During the fight with the police, a member of the PTI was also hurt. Protesters set fire to garbage dumps at different places to lessen the effects of shelling.

Because of the protests, traffic between two cities next to each other was messed up for hours, and people had to walk miles to get where they needed to go. People in Rawalpindi had a lot of trouble because the main highways were closed.

Faizabad Interchange Protest

Near Faizabad Interchange, all shops, hotels, and bus stop stayed closed. Residents of nearby areas found it hard to breathe because of all the black-and-white smoke from the shelling at Faizabad.

Islamabad police also fought with PTI workers in different places, like outside the ECP headquarters, where party leaders and workers had gathered to hear the verdict against their leader.

The police stopped the PTI workers from marching into the red zone and pushed them back. Islamabad police arrested a Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police officer on security duty with MNA Sahil Muhammad outside the ECP office after he started firing from the air.

In the evening, the police in Islamabad sent a message saying that the road from Faizabad to Islamabad was now open.

“The route from Islamabad will also be open soon,” police said, adding that some people were setting trees on fire, which slowed down traffic.

The Islamabad Police had put out a high alert for the federal capital because they were worried about a possible law and order situation after the ECP’s decision in the Toshakhana case, which said that PTI leader Imran Khan couldn’t hold public office.

At each of the 13 entrances to Islamabad, the police had also set up checkpoints. The police in Islamabad said, “Every citizen has the right to peacefully protest, but no one will be allowed to damage property in the name of protest.”

Read the battle begins, and I will fight the verdict: Imran Khan

Quetta to Islamabad Protest

Friday night, supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) held a protest outside the Quetta Press Club against the removal of Imran Khan as prime minister. In Kuchlak and Muslim Bagh, PTI workers also blocked the main highway from Quetta to Islamabad.

Outside the Press Club, the protesters were led by Qasim Khan Suri, who used to be the deputy speaker of the National Assembly, and other leaders. The PTI workers shouted slogans against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM). Other leaders like Noor Khan Khilji, Abdul Bari Bareech, Muhammad Asif Tareen, and others were also there.

“On behalf of Pakistan’s election commission, PTI will fight this decision,” Qasim Suri said at the protest. He said the party would get even angrier about the “imported government” in the Center.

Workers from the PTI started a protest rally in Shehbaz Town, Quetta, and marched to the Press Club.

The party members also stopped traffic on the main road that goes from Quetta to Islamabad. Because of the protest by PTI supporters, there were long lines of cars on both sides of the road. The roads being blocked caused a lot of trouble for the public.