ISLAMABAD: A large number of PTI supporters took to the streets to lodge their protest against the assassination attempt on party chairman Imran Khan.
Clashes erupted between the PTI workers and the police in Faizabad, the sources said, adding that the police used tear gas to disperse the protestors.
Following the violent protest and clashes, the FC arrested several activists of the party from the Faizabad Bridge.
In a statement, the Islamabad Capital Territory Police (ICT) said that the protestors were gathered at Faizabad in Rawalpindi. The police feared that armed men could be present among the protestors, adding that the demonstrators were pelting stones at the police.
Earlier, the PTI leadership said that Khan's workers and supporters would start protesting after Friday prayers.
The party was holding demonstrations in major cities across Pakistan including Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar, Malakand, Rajanpur, Bahawalnagar, Muzaffargarh, and Kohat, among others.
The police baton-charged protesters and fired tear gas shells at the protesters on Shahrah-e-Faisal to ensure their dispersal.
The PTI’s supporters were staging protests against the assassination attempt on Khan near Jinnah Hospital Mor. The police also took several protestors, including women into custody.
Two hours after the clashes, the police finally managed to disperse the protesters and fully restore the vehicular traffic on shahrah-e-faisal.
Earlier, the lane between Jinnah Hospital Mor to Metropole signal was blocked for all kinds of traffic due to the clashes. Another track leading from Saddar police station to the Metropole signal was also blocked.
PTI MPA Raja Azhar Khan also sustained injuries due to the police’s baton-charge and stampede on Shahrah-e-Faisal. He vowed to move court against SSP South.
“Shelling and rubber bullets cannot bring down our morale,” he added.
Police, however, said that around 300 to 500 protesters were heading toward Metropole from the Gora Qabaristan (Christian’s cemetery). The protesters did not stop despite several warnings. Finally, the police used tear gas near Jinnah Hospital Mor to disperse the protestors.
Protestors in Lahore held demonstrations against the federal government. Earlier, PTI workers and supporters vandalised public property outside the Governor House’s gate at Lahore’s Mall Road resulting in a traffic jam before ending the protest, as the police reached the spot.
Earlier, some PTI supporters jumped the Governor House’s gate while holding PTI flags in their hands and placing them on the gate, while others tried to trespass barriers placed by law enforcement. Meanwhile, lawyers of the Insaf Lawyer’s Forum also gathered at the venue earlier.
Demonstrations affected traffic at Lahore’s Thokar Niaz Baig and Shahdara Chowk, as well as at Mall Road’s GPO intersection.
Demonstrations were also being held at the Maulana Zafar Ali Khan intersection in Wazirabad, where PTI workers have blocked the traffic moving from Lahore to Islamabad.
In Lahore, the party's workers and supporters were being led by Senator Ejaz Chaudhry.
In Quetta, party workers were protesting at the Mannan Chowk where provincial leaders were also present.
In Hyderabad, supporters were protesting at the Haider intersection, while protesters were also gathered in Tharparkar's Kashmir intersection.
Traffic had also been closed due to protests at the Milad intersection in Lodhran.
Workers were demonstrating at the Main Bazaar in Mansehra, while protests were also being held in Orakzai's Ghilju Bazar Anjani, Feroze Khel, Headquarters intersection, and Buland Khel areas.
In Gujrat, various areas were closed to traffic, while PTI workers blocked the Shaheen Bypass Road.
In Bahawalnagar, protests took place in Rafiq Shah, while in Rajanpur, supporters conducted a sit-in at Chowk Allahabad, Rojhan, Fazilpur, and Jampur.
In Rajanpur, PTI workers blocked the Sindh-Punjab border by burning tyres, which caused a long queue of vehicles stuck in traffic.
In Peshawar, protestors gathered at the Motorway Interchange. They were raising slogans against the federal government and in favour of Khan.
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