Police use tear gas to break up PTI protest, make arrests.

LAHORE -- Following hours of fierce clashes between the police and the PTI workers which left one protester dead and many injured including policemen, party chief Imran Khan called off the election rally acAcusing the incumbent government of planAning to create chaos to escape elections.

'Stop everything. We are not taking out the rally that we were supAposed to as.. I am sadAdened to say... that all the moves the governAment is making are aimed at running away from elections,' he said in a teleAvised addressed to his supAporters as he lashed out at the provincial police for its alleged brutality and asked the parAty workers to return to their homes peacefully.

Following the sudden imposiAtion of section 144 in the whole of Lahore district by the Punjab interim government, the PunAjab Police restrained PTI workAers from reaching the PTI chief's residence by blocking the routes leading towards Zaman Park here on Wednesday.

According to A PTI, one party worker Ali Bilal alias Zille Shah lost his life allegedly due to poAlice baton charge and shelling while several got serious injuAries. The PTI claimed that poAlice arrested 150 party workAers and locked them at different police stations. The PTI leaders alleged that police took Ali BiAlal in custody from Zaman Park and tortured him to death. The police not only tortured female activists, but also fired expired tear gas shells on peaceful parAty workers, they alleged.

The areas around Zaman Park residence of Imran Khan became a battlefield as police used tear gas shells and waAter cannons to prevent PTI acAtivists from assembling at the Khan's residence from where the PTI chief was scheduled to lead the rally.

Citing the current security sitAuation, the provincial home deApartment on Wednesday imAposed a complete ban on all kinds of processions, rallies and sit-ins in Lahore for a period of seven days. A day earlier, the PTI was given a route and perAmission to hold the rally. HowAever, in a late night development a letter was issued by the federAal interior ministry on Tuesday in which the fear of possible terArorist attack in the rallies and protest was expressed.

Despite the imposition of secAtion 144, scores of PTI activists and workers including women marched towards Khan's resiAdence to participate in the ralAly. Before the arrival of PTI leadAers and workers, the police had already put the arrangements in place to prevent PTI workAers from reaching Imran Khan's residence at Zaman Park.

...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT