RAWALPINDI: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has returned back to Peshawar as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) failed to formally stage protest at Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh amid clashes with the police.
The Gandapur-led convoy remained stuck at the interchange for several hours due to closure of roads as the authorities have placed containers at Burhan Interchange in an attempt to thwart PTI’s protest.
Addressing the participants, the KP chief executive directed them to return back to Peshawar and castigated the government for not granting PTI its “constitutional right”.
He regretted that the police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the protesters, vowing that they will come back with “all resources”.
“They [police] have set a precedent of firing bullets […] We also have guns,” he warned.
The firebrand politician noted that the allocated deadline for holding protest in Rawalpindi has ended.
Gandapur’s announcement drew strong opposition from the protesters as they refused to return back and demanded his resignation.
The PTI workers surrounded the KP chief minister’s vehicle and staged a protest against the party leadership at Burhan Interchange.
However, the protest was ended after PTI leader Azam Swati’s intervention.
Speaking to the protesters, the former federal minister said they have called off the Rawalpindi protest on Imran Khan’s instructions. “We have to follow his [PTI founder] directives.”
Earlier, clashes broke out between the PTI workers and police near Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh ahead of its planned protest as the garrison city was put on high alert.
The Punjab government has imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in Rawalpindi Division for two days, banning all political gatherings, sit-ins, rallies, protests and similar activities.
PTI had initially planned to hold a public rally at Liaquat Bagh, but shifted the event to a demonstration following directives from PTI founder Imran Khan.
It also withdrawn its application seeking a no-objection certificate (NOC) to hold a rally from the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi bench.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Salman Akram Raja were also detained in their way to Rawalpindi near Sector H-13 only to be released shortly.
In a statement, the PTI said Gohar and Salman were travelling to Rawalpindi when the police stopped their vehicle near Sector H-13 and took them into custody. “They [law enforcers] took both the leaders in a van.”
Following his release, the PTI chief — while speaking to Geo News — said that the police asked them to go back “instead of heading to Rawalpindi”.
On the other hand, Rawalpindi police spokesperson said that the city was on “high-alert” and police personnel were deployed at the city’s entry and exit points.
The spokesperson reiterated that no illegal public gathering was allowed at any place in Rawalpindi, warning of strict action in case of violation.
The Imran Khan-founded party, as part of its months-long efforts to secure permission to hold public gatherings, has managed to hold two rallies in Islamabad and Lahore under strict conditions in recent weeks.
Several areas of the Rawalpindi became battleground with the police firing tear gas at the PTI workers and supporters, including women, who gathered to stage the demonstration following the directives of Imran Khan.
Geo News correspondent reported that the party supporters attempted to head towards Liaquat Bagh from Committee Chowk and Moti Mahal by removing the containers placed by the authorities.
Police resorted to teargas shelling to disperse the crowd, leading to violent clashes along Murree Road where Imran’s sisters — Aleema Khan, Naureen Khan and Uzma Khan — are also present.
PTI supporters retaliated by hurling stones and glass bottles at the police.
Along with teargas shelling, the law enforcers also fired rubber bullets to prevent the protesters from reaching the venue.
Geo News correspondent, Haider Sherazi, covering the protest, was beaten up by the local police and taken into custody.
Sherazi was covering the former ruling party's protest at Islamabad toll plaza, where the PTI workers and supporters clashed with the police.
The journalist introduced himself to the charged cops many times, however, they kept beating him up along with other journalists and snatched their mobile phones.
Sherazi received wounds on his face and head due to the police torture.
On the other hand, Gandapur, who was leading a convoy to Rawalpindi to attend the protest, also faced police shelling at the Burhan Interchange.
In light of the prospective protests, City Police Officer (CPO) Khalid Hamdani cancelled the leave of the officers ordering all personnel to be on duty.
On the recommendations of the district administration, a request was made to the Federal Ministry of Interior for the deployment of Rangers in Rawalpindi and Attock. Four companies of Rangers were expected to be stationed in Rawalpindi and in Attock, The News reported.
Authorities had sealed Liaquat Bagh from all sides as well as the road leading to the venue. Faizabad, Shamsabad, Chandni Chowk, Rehmanabad, and Committee Chowk were also blocked.
With the metro bus service also suspended, the road leading from Faizabad Expressway to Pirwadhai was closed for traffic along with all the ones leading to Rawalpindi from the Faizabad bridge.
Also, the routes connecting Faizabad to Murree Road were also blocked with containers.
However, Islamabad Expressway and Faizabad flyover were open for traffic along with IJP Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed Road.
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