Islamabad clashes: PTI, MQM to observe day of mourning on Sunday

Dawn.com Published August 31, 2014

ISLAMABAD: After anti-government protesters and law enforcement personnel clashed in the federal capital, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM ) late on Saturday night announced to observe a Youm-i-soug (day of mourning) on Sunday.

MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi, one of the members of the mediating committee with the PAT, speaking to DawnNews said: “The situation at the moment is extremely painful. There is no Pakistani right now whose hand is not on his heart.”

“Our effort was to prevent a law and order situation for which the government will have to use force. Now we have no choice but to stand with the victims. For this reason, the MQM has announced a countrywide strike.”

Later, MQM chief Altaf Hussain demanded Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to voluntarily resign from his position, DawnNews reported.

Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at thousands of protesters led by PTI chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri.

Some 25,000 people began to march on the prime minister's house late Saturday after talks with the government mediated by the powerful army failed to end the impasse.

Violence broke out after the protesters attempted to remove containers in front of the President House, using a crane.

TuQ,PTIlongmarch

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Abdullah

Aug 31, 2014 12:39am

The government is in a big mess now.

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Napier Mole

Aug 31, 2014 12:42am

Stupid position by MQM. Are they really supporting the position of PTI or PAT which has been rejected by most of the country including most of the Karachiites. IK and TUQ have brought this situation upon themselves through their intransigence. Does MQM expect government to let the red zone be vioalated. The demand for NS resignation was wrong and remains wrong. Any other course would just set the worst prscedent i.e. By collecting a mob and shedding some blood a change of government can be achieved. MQM clearly appears to be out of tune.

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M1968

Aug 31, 2014 12:43am

Let the army take over the country and run it like Saddam Hussein. That is what this nation needs and deserve.

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saad

Aug 31, 2014 12:57am

I don't like IK or his politics. But Nawaz needs to resign asap. Any democratic government would have long resigned and seeked fresh mandate by now.

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Fazal

Aug 31, 2014 01:00am

MQM should remember they used containers and killed many people in Karachi to stop the visit of Retd. Chief Justice Iftikhar. Now they are again trying to seize on this situation.

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m. a

Aug 31, 2014 01:10am

Sir, the story of arrival and arrest of General Musharraf has been repeated again. Mr. Imran and Quadri were mislead and were lead to the president house to be punished severely. Sir the story of Yazeed and Imam Hussain has been repeated again. I have listened to the foul words of Nawaz and his stupid ministers. I can swear all the government, including the PPP are neither Muslims and not Pakistani. There throat should be cut and the bodies thrown in the Indian ocean.

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reality bites

Aug 31, 2014 01:22am

@Napier Mole MQM is far better than your PML-N ,'Badshahat' . They are smarter (politically) and can guage what coming soon.

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1984!

Aug 31, 2014 01:24am

@Napier Mole: Most people in the country are supporting IK and Qadri, sorry you're too blind to see it.

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Abz100

Aug 31, 2014 01:33am

Altaf Hussain been stupid again, his rep saying what's wrong with letting the protester enter the parliament house and sit on prime minister seat, Seriously.... Are you for real. That fat blob is seating in England for how many years but still declares himself a Pakistani leader, Qadri comes from Canada every so often and takes out his uneducated, jobless mob on the street. I would say ban him from the country. All politicians are the same and sadly as its seen across the globe democracy is not for uneducated people who don't understand what it means. Politics and religion are 2 separate things and if you mix them then you get Iraq, Syria, Palestine, libya and now Pakistan.Corruption is everywhere in every Muslim country but they still call themselves Muslims, shame on all of them, forget about being a politician, first be a Muslim and it will get rid of all your issues.

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NHM

Aug 31, 2014 01:37am

@Napier Mole , its about time you jump off Nawaz's sinking ship

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AdHawk

Aug 31, 2014 01:43am

MQM's tail is under the boot right now. This is the best they can do.

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noman

Aug 31, 2014 01:48am

Stupid decision by MQM!! Now they have openly come out to support TuQ

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Aug 31, 2014 01:50am

stupid MQM ALWAYS ON CONFRONTATION.

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Asif

Aug 31, 2014 02:09am

Nawaz has done a good job in his interest. Selected a weak and old President and weak COAS. How is COAS gong to handle India and TTP once they counter attack inside the country?. On his visit to SSG he was questioned and told to uphold the honor of the Army.

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AB Shahid

Aug 31, 2014 02:16am

Nawaz Sharif should remember the end of Qadaffi

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S Bhutto

Aug 31, 2014 03:06am

@Napier Mole Good Job MQM

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Amir Malik

Aug 31, 2014 03:15am

@Abdullah Correct They killed 14 innocent people in Lahore and now more to come. NZ and his family behaving like suadi kings, they should send back to Saudia Arabia.

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Aug 31, 2014 03:23am

I don't understand Nawaz Sharif. He should announce new elections at once and I am sure he will win the elections even with a bigger margin. Even he has political partners to make alliences with which IK doesn't have.

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Farid

Aug 31, 2014 03:31am

Why is NS afraid of fresh elections?

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Jawad

Aug 31, 2014 03:39am

@m. a Vow. We are all frustrated , may be angry , but brother ? Wait for the investigation.see how things unfold. Pray and read Quran Pak. It will help you cool down. As is, Only God knows who's Muslim or not. Who are we to decide.

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Jawad

Aug 31, 2014 04:10am

@Abz100 Comes from Canada every so often and takes out his uneducated, jobless mob on the street. Very bad. I may agree with most of what you say but you have no right to say this. You don't know there level of education, some of whom may be Hafiz( best education at least I can hope for). And besides I see no difference between your thinking and current and former rulers. These people are Pakistani first. Our brothers and sisters. They are out because people were killed in cold blood and you know it. They are out to get justice No matter who is leading them. What they are doing , it will help you too. Killing of innocent people is not a small matter for next time it could be you or someone you know.

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Jawad

Aug 31, 2014 04:18am

@saad Yes but the problem is that Sharif brothers know as soon as they resign at least SS is going to prison. It's not only the PM chair and CM chair they are fighting for. They are fighting for their survival.

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Riaz

Aug 31, 2014 04:55am

MQM knows only one thing I.e how to stay in the news .They are in the habit of issuing several statements in a day even cotradicting their previous statements .they show their insincerity by stopping support of democracy and switching over support to mob rule of IK & TQ.This switching over could also be due to the fact that PAT of TQ and MQM are both organised on Fascist principles ( both have copied methods of Hitler ,Mussolini ) and probably I K wants to follow these when he talks of Naya Pakistan.At the moment IK has become hostage of TQ and Q league ,what a disaster for PTI & Pakistan.

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M. Emad

Aug 31, 2014 06:01am

Indeed, Sunday 'a day of mourning' --- a day of mourning for Pakistani democracy !

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Tariq K Sami

Aug 31, 2014 06:16am

@Napier Mole : I have always said and maintained my position for weeks if you read my previous posts. To plant new seeds you must remove the weeds. This bunch of looters and tax evaders vote riggers and loan defaulters must go. MQM is not late it was waiting for Punjab to take the lead.

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Tariq K Sami

Aug 31, 2014 06:17am

@m. a No that is not a civilised way.

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sunny

Aug 31, 2014 06:27am

We are with you imran khan.We fully support you.

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NASAH (USA)

Aug 31, 2014 07:45am

A day of SHAME for Imran Khan.

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ShManzar

Aug 31, 2014 08:13am

Imran and Qadri have staged this show upon inspiration and support of some hidden forces. Its not possible they could hold out this long on their own finances or intellect. Its an agenda to destabilise Pakistan, and May Allah SWT destabilise their actions, and Cause disunity and disharmony amongst them and the enemies of Pakistan.

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Ebrahim

Aug 31, 2014 08:35am

Observing days of mourning will not help - what happened to Altaf Hussain's comments that if force is used MQM will join the marches. It is shame on PPP, JUI Fazalur and leader of opposition to support the oppressors in the name of saving democracy.

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Ahmad Ali Rafi Ahmad

Aug 31, 2014 09:24am

So the bubble bursts!

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Karachi Wala

Aug 31, 2014 10:00am

MQM is back to do what it does best. Be in govt. and in the opposition at the same time. Lage raho mere bhai-o.

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Syed Asif Zafar

Aug 31, 2014 11:04am

Now is high time to MQM open their eyes and support the current issues.do some the on the ground.Other wise MQM will loose ther power and recpect .Know is time for MQM action.

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tinker bell

Aug 31, 2014 11:56am

@NASAH (USA) Day of shame for the government. Deplorable handling of the situation starting from 17th June massacre in Lahore

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Masoud

Aug 31, 2014 12:01pm

It is point of no return now, Nawaz Sharif & company should be forced to resign & face the court for their role in murdering & injuring scores of innocent & peaceful people. They don,t deserve to rule the country any more in fact never. MQM has taken a correct decision of protesting use of force on peaceful protesters. MQM was also a victim of such brutality in the past, how can they remain unconcerned with same brutality being practiced now on innocent peoples. Demonstration of peaceful public power should not be suppressed, is this for what democracy is chanted....shame to such hypocrisy in the guise of democracy. Army should immediately step in.

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Ashraf Mirza (USA)

Aug 31, 2014 12:08pm

@Napier Mole You are right. I agree with you 100% .. PM Mr. Nawaz Sharif is a gentleman, he is the best PM for' for Pakistan and for people of Pakistan. Any other PM would have order police department to arrest IK and Qadri and let them sit in jail....God bless Pakistan and PM Nawaz Sharif

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