ISLAMABAD: Some of the participants of the sit-ins were on Sunday seen leaving for their hometowns.

Kazim Khan, a supporter of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) from D.I. Khan, said though he had come in a bus provided by his party, he was going back on his own after the Saturday violence.

“I have reached the conclusion that Imran Khan cannot become a politician. Nawaz Sharif managed to get the support of all the political parties but the PTI chief remained isolated in parliament,” he said.

Ghulam Raza, a resident of Chakwal in his late 60s, said he came to Islamabad along with PAT chief Tahirul Qadri.

“I am going back to my native city because my daughter has to appear in an exam. I will come back after her exam,” he said.

In reply to a question, he said police beat him and other members of PAT.

Mohammad Azam, a trader from Rawalpindi, said he had come to the sit-in of the PTI just for an entertainment but suddenly the situation changed due to which he took refuge in the Red Zone.

“I had also brought a camera on Saturday night to have the snaps of Imran Khan but when the shelling started I decided to keep away from the marchers. Thank god I am going back without getting any injury,” he said.

Akhtar Munir, another supporter of the PTI, was also seen going back to his native city.

Meanwhile, police officials deputed at the exit points of the Red Zone were seen beating people leaving the sit-ins.

Umair Hayat, an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of the Islamabad police, checked the CNIC of the people and after confirming that they were leaving the sit-in, hit them twice in the legs.

Liaquat Ali, another ASI, told Dawn that most of the police officials were upset because the protesters tortured them.

“We are beating them to make sure that they would not come back to the sit-ins. There are a number of women and children who lost their houses and family members in the 2005 earthquake and Mr Tahirul Qadri adopted them. So, these women have no option to leave the sit-in,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2014