-Punjab Police put in Gullu Butt mode
-PTI leaders, workers busted, brutely thrashed by Police across Punjab, Islamabad, Sindh
-Imran Khan says ‘Absolutely Not’ to deal with government
-Vows not to vacate D-Chowk until new election date is announced
-Protesters continue reaching D-Chowk as Imran Khan firm to defy challenges
-Marcher dies after thrown by Police from bridge in Lahore
By Anzal Amin
ISLAMABAD: Punjab Police Wednesday acted just like Gullu Butt by enforcing government’s illegal order to stop PTI workers from heading towards Islamabad on a call by former Prime Minister Imran Khan for ‘Real Freedom March’ scheduled at D-Chowk against ‘imported government’.
The first cruelty occurred when , a worker of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been reported dead after falling from a bridge amid a PTI rally.
According to details, PTI worker Faisal Abbas Chaudhry fell from a bridge near Batti Chowk Lahore and was reported dead.
PTI leader Shafqat Mehmood claims that the police pushed him from the bridge and that PM and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah are responsible for his death. The whole nation is cursing them right now, he added.
Meanwhile, PTI leader Musarrat Jamshed has said that the responsibility for Faisal’s death is on Rana Sanaullah.
Earlier, around 6pm, the main convoy from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which includes Imran, was able to enter Punjab from Attock after successfully removing barricades placed by the Punjab government at the Attock bridge to stop marchers from entering the province.
There were reports of intense shelling in Islamabad’s Blue Area, with television footage showing smoke rising from the ground and fires in the green belts adjacent to main roads. The government claimed that the PTI supporters had set the fires whereas the claim from the PTI camp was that the fires were a result of police shelling. Neither claim could be independently verified.
These developments came a day after the PTI chairman exhorted his supporters to embark on their march for “true freedom” towards Islamabad as the government said it would not allow the march. In response, Imran had called on the youth to remove the obstacles themselves.
Meanwhile, police fired tear gas at protesters near the Chacch Interchange in Hazro town of Attock district. According to details, the protesters had brought a crane and were attempting to remove the containers that were blocking the way.
Police fired tear gas shells on the protesters in an attempt to disperse them. Footage from the scene showed protesters covering their faces and running from the scene as smoke billowed in the background.
“We are peaceful and were trying to remove the hurdles when Punjab police resorted to tear gas shelling,” PTI worker Shabir Ahmed said, adding that the protesters would not return or move at any cost.
Separately, the PTI had earlier tweeted that the party’s south KP convoy, led by Ali Amin Gandapur, was “well on its way” towards Islamabad after the blockades faced at the Punjab-KP border were “crossed successfully”.
Police attempted to arrest Hammad Azhar in Lahore. Footage showed scuffles between supporters and police as they tried to arrest Azhar, who could be seen wearing a red cap in footage broadcasted on Social Media.
Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, was arrested in Lahore and was moved to an undisclosed location. In a brief video message, he said they were living in a country of 220 million people and all of them would exercise their “democratic rights”.
Separately, footage circulation across Social Media showed police were stopping leader Yasmin Rashid’s vehicle in Lahore. An exchange of words could also be seen after police reportedly attempted to yank out the key of the vehicle she was travelling in.
Video aired by broadcasters showed police landing blows on a vehicle — purportedly Rashid’s — as it tried to pass through a cordon. A non-uniformed individual with his face covered could also be seen in the footage, hitting the vehicle forcefully.
A faceoff was reported between PTI supporters and the police in Gujranwala when the latter tried to stop them with barricades near Khanki Headworks. However, the marchers forced their way through the obstructions and move ahead.
The caravan, led by Chaudhry Ahmed Chatha, was on its way to Islamabad.
According to PTI’s Gujranwala General Secretary, Tariq Gujjar, 150 people from the caravan were taken into custody.
On the other hand, PTI district president Ali Asjad Malhi left Daska with supporters in a caravan.
Earlier, the police raided Malhi’s house, where party leaders had gathered, and tried to arrest him under Section 144. Later, Malhi was also arrested.
PTI supporters and the police also clashed at the Kamalpur Interchange in Faisalabad. The marchers, however, advanced after breaking through the wall of the Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA).
Police officers also tried to stop the party workers near the motorway after which a scuffle broke out between both groups.
Aside from Gujranwala, Sadhoke, Chenab Bridge, Khanki Headway and the city area have been completely blocked.
At 1:32pm, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry tweeted that after shelling marchers, a shot had been fired on them in Mangla — a village situated on the border of Kashmir and Jhelum — some 120km from Islamabad.
In another video, Chaudhry, who is allegedly stuck on the Mangla bridge, said that three PTI workers suffered severe injuries due to shelling by the police. “Several cars have suffered damage too. The Punjab police entered the jurisdiction of Kashmir and shelled us,” he said.
“But more people are coming. And I want to appeal to the people of Jhelum and Kashmir to join us at the Mangla bridge. We will head to Islamabad from here,” Chaudhry added.
Earlier, the former information minister had said that the Mangla bridge was blocked by the police.
Police blocked the Niazi Chowk in Bani Gala, a few kilometres away from Imran’s residence. The Islamabad police established a checkpost there, while approximately 2,000 Punjab police officers were posted.
Meanwhile, PTI supporters in Karachi started gathering near the Numaish Chowrangi to “register their demand for immediate, free & fair elections”.
“Karachi is about to make its own Azadi Square as Kaptaan’s caravan and other rallies head towards Islamabad,” PTI tweeted.
In the evening, police fired tear gas and baton-charged PTI protesters at the chowrangi after hundreds of them gathered at the spot. Scores of protesters were dispersed following police action and were forced to seek shelter in nearby lanes. However, the protest hasn’t yet been called off.
Earlier, Karachi traffic police said that the MA Jinnah Road from Capri Cinema towards Numaish Chowrangi had been blocked over “security reasons”. Corridor 3 has also been closed for traffic from the PPP Chowrangi.
Later, the incumbent government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday dismissed reports that a deal had been reached between the two sides as the former ruling party’s long march made its way towards the federal capital.
Federal Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb confirmed in a statement that there was no agreement between the federal government and the PTI.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan also denied rumours of a deal with the government and said “absolutely not” to any such prospects. He added the party leadership was not moving toward the federal capital.
Rumours & delib disinfo that a deal has been done. Absolutely not! We are moving towards Islamabad & no question of any deal. We will remain in Islamabad till announcement of dates for dissolution of assemblies & elections are given. Calling all ppl of Islamabad & Pindi to join
“We will remain in Islamabad till the announcement of dates for dissolution of assemblies and elections are given.” He further urged the people of the twin cities to join PTI’s march.
Earlier, rumours were doing the round claiming that the government had agreed to hold a meeting under the stipulation that the PTI would agree with the government’s conditions, including that Imran Khan would address his rally in Islamabad and then leave – instead of holding a long march.
PTI leader Shahbaz Gill confirmed on his Twitter account that the news regarding the agreement was “completely false and untrue”.
“The only purpose is to mislead the people. No such promise has been made and will not be made”.
The PML-N government and its allies have decided that the current setup will complete its tenure till August 2023 and the general elections would be held at the stipulated time next year.
