ISLAMABAD: The protests in Pakistan demanding the ouster of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif — headed by popular cleric Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri and opposition leader Imran Khan– intensified on Saturday night, as tens of thousands of protesters marched towards the PM House in the heavily guarded area of the federal capital.
As a sea of protesters marched towards PM House shouting revolutionary slogans, police opened fire and resorted to massive tear gas shelling to disperse the peaceful surge.
Unconfirmed reports said several people were killed.
Earlier in the day, Mr Sharif had dismissed the political crisis as “a tiny storm” that would end soon.
Upon the end of his deadline, Dr Qadri announced last and decisive phase of his revolution and called upon people to march towards PM House.
He also called upon PTI protesters and chairman Imran Khan to move along with them.
Khan later announced to join the PAT marchers and urged his supporters to move towards the PM House peacefully. He told women participating in the protest that they should not panic and stay calm.
Speaking to massive rallies at their respective sit-ins, both leaders urged their supporters to show restraint and march peacefully towards the PM House.
In speeches, Khan and Qadri said they will remain peaceful and urged security forces to abstain from using force against the protesters.
Some 20,000 police in riot gear were charged with blocking the procession.
Heavy contingents of police and security forces deployed there resorted to teargas and fired rubber bullets at the protesters, local TV channels reported.
Reacting to the development, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned marchers against taking law into their own hands. He said that contingents of Pakistan Army deployed at Constitution Avenue would protect all government institutions.
However commander of the 111 brigade at the Constitution Avenue has directed policemen not to fire upon protesters marching towards the PM House.
DawnNews. reported that military and police high ups held a meeting to finalise their security plan to stop protesters from marching towards PM House. It was decided by the military that use of force would be avoided and no guns would be used against peaceful protesters.
Earlier, speaking to the protesters, Dr Qadri strongly condemned the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for violating basic human rights to poor masses of the country.
He called on stage mother and brother of a girl who he claimed was gang-raped in Dera Ghazi Khan and committed suicide later. Dr Qadri condemned the incident, saying it highlights plight of the underprivileged in the country.
He then asked his supporters to pray for them and vowed to take revenge from the rulers. Daughters of the nation are dishonoured in this country and they have nowhere to go seek protection, he lamented.
Referring to PM Sharifs statement followed by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Syed Khursheed Shahs press conference mirroring the premiers claim that they will safeguard democracy, Qadri said that looters have realised the days of their fake democracy are numbered.
Imran Khan meanwhile lambasted Prime Minister Sharif for suggesting that the PTI has the support of the military in its anti-government protest.
A man who was raised in General Zias nursery is telling me the army is supporting me, Imran scoffed.
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