Islamabad: Setting the stage for a confrontation, Imran Khan and Tahir-ul-Qadri led thousands of protesters armed with wire cutters who broke barricades and forced their way towards Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's official residence pressing for his immediate resignation.
Raising slogans against Sharif and his government, protesters marched from the National Assembly to the Prime Minister's House, some 500 metres away, shortly after Khan, chief of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Qadri, heading the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), announced a shift of the protest venue.
The protesters used crane and bolt cutters to inch their way past a barricade of shipping containers as authorities rushed forces to deal with the volatile situation. Before the protesters set off on their march, the Interior Ministry announced that soldiers would be deployed to stop the protesters.
On a day of dramatic developments, Sharif left for Lahore. Both Khan and Qadri have been demanding the ouster of Sharif with Khan alleging that last year's general election was rigged.
"I will lead the march to the PM House. All my supporters should follow me," he said.
He asked women and children to stay behind until asked by him to join the march.
Khan's announcement came soon after a similar decision by Qadri. Khan asked his supporters to remain peaceful and asked law enforcement agencies not to stop the protesters.
Comments
0 comment