SHAFAQNA PAKISTAN (Shia News Agency)
After staging anti-government protest sit-ins for two weeks in front of Parliament building in the federal capital, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Chief Dr Tahirul Qadri and Pakistan Thereek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday night directed their followers to march towards the Prime Minister House.
Speaking to participants of their respective sit-ins, they urged them to show restraint and march peacefully towards the PM House.
Dr Qadri called upon PTI protesters and chairman Imran Khan to move along with them.
PTI Chairman 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.
Heavy contingents of police and security forces were deployed in Islamabad’s Red Zone in the wake of anti-government protest demonstration by the two parties.
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 were under ministry of interior.
Asif vowed that Army would protect all government institutions.
Meanwhile, commander of the 111 brigade at the Constitution Avenue has directed policemen not to fire upon protesters marching towards the PM House.
Credible security sources told Dawn.com 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.
A government spokesman has categorically stated that there is no question of resignation or proceeding on leave by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, nor any member from the government side has made such suggestion.
PTI President Javed Hashmi has reportedly left the scene after developing differences with the party leadership. He was apparently unhappy about the decision of marching on the PM House, DawnNews reported.
Addressing Hashmi, Imran Khan vowed not to derail democracy in the country.
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 vows to take revenge from the rulers. “Daughters of the nation are dishonoured in this country,” he said.
Referring to PM Sharif’s statement followed by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Syed Khursheed Shah’s 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 flays PM Nawaz for ‘defaming’ military
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday lambasted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for suggesting that the PTI has the support of the military in its anti-government protest.
In a mid-day address to supporters gathered at D-chowk — the venue for the PTI’s protracted dharna — Imran said Nawaz was attempting to “defame the army by saying it is supporting Imran Khan”.
pakistan.shafaqna.com
