 |
| |
WEEKLY
SECTIONS |
 |
 |
 |
|
| No let-up in PML-N’s countrywide protest |
|
|
|
Saturday, February 28, 2009
By Shakeel Anjum
ISLAMABAD: The protest against the Supreme Court verdict, disqualifying PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif and former Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif to hold any public office, continued for the third consecutive day across the country on Friday.
PML-N leaders and activists held protest rallies in different cities with the support of lawyers and some other political parties. Angry PML-N workers in the twin-cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad set police posts on fire and damaged vehicles escorting Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar and Islamabad IGP Syed Kalb-e-Abbas.
Dozens of private and government vehicles were also damaged on the third day of protest against the disqualification of Sharif brothers. Police arrested hundreds of people involved in damaging public property and attacking the police officials.
The workers, on the call of top leadership of the PML-N, started gathering after Jumma prayers in different areas around the federal capital and started pelting the police and private vehicles with stones.
Earlier, the police tried to disperse the mob gathered at Tramrhi Chowk and Zia Masjid but failed to control the situation as the protestors blocked the Islamabad highway by burning tyres. They damaged traffic signals and billboards. The traffic on the highway remained suspended for over eight hours.
A 50-strong group of protestors burnt tyres and blocked main roads around the Jinnah Super Market while another group set a police post near Faizabad on fire. They also damaged public and private property near Faizabad and Garden Avenue.
More than 15 people including policemen were wounded in clashes. One of them, identified as Muhammad Arif was in critical condition, Dr Wasim Khwaja, spokesman of Pims told The News.
Arshad Dogar adds from Lahore: In the provincial metropolis, keeping in view the deteriorating law and order, heavy contingents of police in riot gear were deployed at all main roads and intersections in the provincial metropolis on the third day of protests against the Sharifs’ disqualification.
The protesters burnt tyres on the roads and chanted slogans against the PPP rulers including President Asif Zardari and Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer. A strange way of protest was also observed outside the assembly and the LHC when two people tied themselves with chains and put locks on their faces and roamed about the Mall on a car packed with other PML-N activists registering their silent protest.
During the protests outside assembly, a man got himself injured due to continuous flagellation in the favour of PML-N leaders. Activists of Jamiat Ahl al-Hadith, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Labour Association also staged protest demonstrations outside the Lahore Press Club against the verdict. They condemned imposition of governor’s rule and also criticised Zardari. The police refrained from taking action against the protesters who assembled in front of the Punjab Assembly and the LHC.
Our other correspondents add: In Faisalabad, traders observed strike against the disqualification of the PML-N leaders. All the markets and shopping centres remained closed while some retailers continued their business.
In Toba Tek Singh, rallies were taken out to protest the disqualification of Sharifs. The PML-N activists and MSF workers reached Grain Market and staged a sit-in outside Jamia Mosque Bilal by the participants.
In Mailsi, on the call of the Punjab Bar Council, the lawyers observed complete boycott to condemn the disqualification of Sharifs and imposition of governor’s rule in the province. In Muridke, the PML-N leaders strongly condemned the disqualification of the Sharifs by the SC.
In Okara, the PML-N leaders and workers took out a rally in protest against the decision. Speaking on the occasion, they said President Zardari had played a “dirty game” with the help of the PCO judges against the PML-N leaders.
In Dera Ghazi Khan, the PML-N women wing staged a sit-in against the disqualification of their party leaders and imposition of governor’s rule.
In Gujranwala, the PML-N continued protest against the disqualification of Sharif brothers. The protesters gathered outside Mukaram Masjid, Model Town after the Friday prayers.
In NWFP, PML-N workers continued their protest. They took out protest rallies in Peshawar, Nowshera, Mingora, Abbottabad, Timergara, Bannu, Mardan and Dargai.
Agencies add: In Quetta, supporters of the PML-N held a rally to protest against disqualification of Sharif brothers from contesting elections. The protesters gathered on Jinnah Road following which they marched on Shar-i-Iqbal, Meezan Chowk, Liaqat Bazaar, Prince Road again on Jinnah Road and Shar-i-Iqbal and culminated in front of the press club on Adalat Road.
|
|
|
| Back
| Send
this story to Friend | Print
Version |
|
|
‘Al-Qaeda, Taliban leaders not in Pakistan’
ISLAMABAD: Strongly reacting to some of the reports of the presence of al-Qaeda and Taliban leadership in Pakistan by the US newspapers and some intelligence agencies, President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday said more |
|
|
Mulla Omar in Karachi, claims WT
WASHINGTON: Mulla Muhammed Omar, the leader of the Afghan Taliban, has fled Quetta and found refuge from the potential US attacks in Karachi with the assistance of Pakistan’s intelligence, the Washington Times more |
|
|
Will PM intervene or will robber barons kill CCP?
By Mehtab Haider
ISLAMABAD: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has warned that it will cease to exist and its actions will become invalid in case the government fails to re-promulgate the Competition Ordinance on or b more |
|
|
Eight militants die in US drone attack
By our correspondent
MIRAMSHAH: Eight militants were killed and two others injured when a US drone hit a house in the Michikhel area in North Waziristan on Friday, the second such attack in less than 24 hours.
Tribal sources sai more |
|
|
19 militants killed in SWA, Khyber, Bajaur clashes
By our correspondents
WANA/BARA/KHAR: Nineteen militants were killed in clashes with security forces in South Waziristan, Khyber and Bajaur tribal regions on Friday.
Tribal and officials sources said five militants were kille more |
|
|
|
Pakistan has nothing to fear from India: Singh
WASHINGTON: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said India is ready to resolve all outstanding issues with the country on the condition that it will not allow its territory to be used against its neighbour more |
|
|
|
Qureshi wants result-oriented dialogue with India
MULTAN: Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmud Qureshi said on Friday Pakistan wanted meaningful and result-oriented bilateral negotiations with India.
Addressing a press conference at the airport here, h more |
|
|
|
Only 15 pc believe Pakistan is going right
By Gibran Peshimam
KARACHI: Pakistan’s youths are losing confidence in the future and a mere 15 per cent believe that the country is heading in the right direction, while 72 per cent feel economically worse off than a year ago. O more |
|
|
|
Mustafa Jatoi passes away
ISLAMABAD: Former caretaker prime minister Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi breathed his last at the St Marry Hospital in London on Friday after a protracted illness. He was 78.
He leaves behind six sons and three d more |
|
|
|
Slaughter of animals, NRO beneficiaries begins on Eid
By Muhammad Ahmad Noorani
ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) will soon announce its strategy to deal with the cases which are going to reopen on Nov 28, a NAB spokesman told The News on Friday.
“The NAB chairman more |
|
|
|
WFP, Rescue 15 attacks’ mastermind arrested
By Shakeel Anjum
ISLAMABAD: The Capital Police on Friday arrested the mastermind behind the attacks on the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the Rescue 15 offices in Islamabad.
The terrorist, identified as Jamshed Ahmad more |
|
|
|
Mushahid asks Karzai not to allow use of Afghan land against Pakistan
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Secretary General Pakistan Muslim League-Q Mushahid Hussain Sayed on Friday asked President Hamid Karzai not to allow the use of Afghan land against Pakistan under Indian designs.
“Pakistan wa more |
|
|
|
No Indo-Pak FMs meeting: Nirupama
NEW DELHI: India on Friday said no meeting had been scheduled between foreign ministers of Pakistan and India in Port of Spain later this month on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting ( more |
|
|
|
US to tighten control of Afghan contracts: Gates
HALIFAX: US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on Friday that the United States must tighten control of Afghan development contracts as a first step towards stemming rampant corruption.
“The reality is more |
|
|
|
China has stake in Kashmir: Mirwaiz
News Desk
HELD SRINAGAR: As he plans to visit China, Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday kicked up a controversy by saying that Beijing has a “direct link” with the Kashmir issue, drawing strong obje more |
|
|
|
Clinton favours Indo-Pak dialogue on Kashmir
WASHINGTON: The United States is encouraging Pakistan and India to resume their dialogue to address Kashmir and other outstanding disputes but any solution must come from the two countries, Secretary of State H more |
|
|
|
Competition Commission forces PIA to fly fair
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Silent prayers of many Hajis have apparently been answered as the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has ordered PIA to refund within 60 days the excessive fares charged from the passengers, wh more |
|
|
|
Attack on policemen in Peshawar
By Javed Aziz Khan
PESHAWAR: The death toll in the bomb attack on police party in Yakatoot rose to three after a sub-inspector and another cop succumbed to injuries at the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) on Friday as the city mourned more |
|
|
|
‘Musharraf funnelling money to improve image’
ISLAMABAD: Former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf has reportedly funnelled a large amount of money to his former aides in the country in order to improve his image, as he is planning a return to the c more |
|
|
|
Sen Lugar’s wife arrested, charged with drinking, hit-and-run
News Desk
WASHINGTON: The wife of Republican Senator Richard G Lugar was arrested in the suburb of McLean on Wednesday night after crashing into a parked car, and she was charged with drunk driving and hit-and-run, the F more |
|
|
|
briefs...
Bombers kill 23 in Afghanistan
HERAT: Bomb attacks on Friday killed 23 people in Afghanistan, a deadly start to President Hamid Karzai’s second term that underscored spiralling insecurity nine years into more |
|
|
|
ISSN 1563-9479 
