After the death of one worker in Faisalabad, and a peaceful, partial shutdown in Karachi, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) Plan C moved to Lahore on Monday. The anti-government protest is aimed at forcing an inquiry into alleged rigging in the May 2013 general election.
In response, the PML-N leadership asked party MNAs, MPAs and officer-bearers from Lahore to stop its workers from coming out on roads in order to prevent violent clashes.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan said his party’s protest would be peaceful like that of its Karachi show.
However unlike the Karachi protest, three people reportedly died in Lahore after ambulances were unable to reach local hospitals due to roads being blocked. Other ugly incidents included the harassment of women at the PTI rally along with media personnel.
Imran Khan condemned the incidents when he addressed party workers and supporters, while also giving another warning to the govt of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
He said that the govt had only “two options” left; form a judicial commission to investigate alleged rigging, or face more protests that would make governance by the PML-N extremely difficult.
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Imran gives govt ‘two options’
Imran Khan warned the government during his speech that another plan is ready if justice is not delivered over alleged rigging in the 2013 elections.
“The government has two options…form a judicial commission or be prepared for our next plan,” he said.
Imran Khan condemns harassment of women at PTI rally
While addressing party supporters at Charing Cross, PTI Chairman Imran Khan condemned the harassment of women and media personnel at rallies in Lahore.
“Misbehavior against women should not happen…workers should protect the media and women attending the rally,” he said.
While speaking about the protest march, he thanked the people of Lahore for coming out to show their support for his movement.
“We have come out to hold Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari accountable,” the PTI chairman said.
“Nawaz Sharif won the 2013 General Elections through rigging,” Imran Khan said.
“If Nawaz Sharif wishes, he can constitute a judicial commission to investigate rigging within 48 hours,” he said.
‘Gullu Butt’s’ have been sent to harass protestors: Andleeb Abbas
PTI leader Andleeb Abbas has said that the government has been sending ‘Gullu Butts’ to harass their protests.
“We said this yesterday in a press conference that they (govt) have sent people wearing PTI shirts to our rallies,” she said.
Imran Khan’s convoy reaches Charing Cross
PTI Chairman Imran Khan has been welcomed by a huge crowd after his convoy reached Charing Cross. He is expected to address party activists and supporters very soon.
PTI shut-down claims three lives in Lahore
PTI workers misbehave with Geo News anchor
PTI workers reportedly misbehaved with Geo News anchor Sana Mirza, while she was reporting on the PTI rally in Lahore.
Govt-PTI talks did not continue because of Imran’s obstinacy, says Ahsan Iqbal
Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said that the government did not come to the talks table with the PTI because of shutdowns, adding that it has been trying to hold talks with the party before it started its protests.
Iqbal also stated that there have been talks between the government and PTI in the past, but party chairman Imran Khan’s obstinacy had prevented talks from progressing.
Innocent people killed due to Imran Khan’s politics, alleges Rashid
Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid alleges that innocent people had lost their lives due to PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s politics.
“You blamed us for the violence in Faisalabad. We gave a free hand to you for your Lahore protest. But still there has been violence,” he says.
He also alleges that ‘Imran’ had caused a delay in the creation of the judicial commission formed to probe alleged rigging in the 2013 general election.
‘Naya Pakistan’ needs display of morality: PM Nawaz
Rejecting the politics of hooliganism by the activities of PTI, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said “Naya Pakistan” needed display of morality and refined culture.
“What kind of culture the protestors are exhibiting and teaching the new generation,” Prime Minister Nawaz said in a brief chat with reporters in Chakwal.
Nawaz said aim of the protestors was to create hurdles in the progress and prosperity of the country.
Citing time constraints, PTI changes convoy route
Imran Khan has changed his convoy plan after Lahore police increased his security.
Instead of going to Thokar Niaz Baig, Imran Khan’s convoy is now heading from main Boulevard Road towards Charing Chowk on Mall Road.
Our policy is clear, no ambulance or media van will be stopped: Qureshi
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi said there are conflicting reports on the death of a 15-year-old boy.
Some reports say the boy was already dead and his body was being shifted, he said. “We have made it clear to our supporters: no ambulance or media vans will be stopped.”
The PTI leader said, the government has failed completely and are trying to malign PTI. Blocking ambulance routes is not our policy, government must end its propaganda, he added.
Qureshi denied of any major clash taking place between PTI and Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) supporters.
“I urge all the PTI supporters to remain peaceful, respect media persons and make way for ambulances,” Qureshi said.
Imran Khan’s caravan passes through Lahore
PTI Chairman Imran Khan joined a caravan of his supporters which was passing through different areas of Lahore and is expected to culminate outside the Punjab Assembly premises.
Imran was seen standing on the roof of the vehicle he was travelling in. He was waving to his supporters and addressed them when the caravan reached Liberty area.
His vehicle was surrounded by a large number of supporters who formed a cordon of their own for security.
The participants of the caravan could be seen shouting anti-government slogans. The PTI chairman has said that he would deliver a ‘victory speech’ upon the successive completion of today’s protest.
PML-N supporters maintained their distance from the caravan’s route as per instruction received from their party’s senior leadership.
Animals included in PTI protests
PTI supporters in Lahore were seen using animals in their demonstrations on Monday.
Some workers were seen riding camels while others hoisted a donkey on their shoulders.
This is not the first instance that animals have been included in the anti-government protests which began in August this year.
PTI supporters had earlier this month also brought dogs to their protests which were also paraded on their shoulders while Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) had brought along with them a hog which was spray painted with anti-government slogans.
PTI is a terrorist organisation: Zaeem
Punjab government spokesman Zaeem Hussain Qadri termed the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) as a terrorist organisation and added that the government-PTI talks would not reach a logical conclusion under the current circumstances.
Addressing a news conference, he appealed to the PTI to shun violence and to not block entry and exit routes of Lahore.
The Punjab government representative said that Khan should not engage in economic torture by shutting down shops forcefully.
He said footage was available which showed violence at the hands of PTI supporters. He cited the examples of a women supporter slapping the vehicle of a Lahore resident, the attack on Lahore’s Metro Bus and the closure of shops in Bhaata area by force.
Qadri said that closure of the Metro Bus services alone had caused losses worth Rs10 million.
He said that PTI had sought permission to hold protests at 18 locations in Lahore but instead it had held demonstrations at 40 locations in the provincial capital city.
He said the PTI robbed 12 million Lahorites of their fundamental rights and asked Khan not to incite his party workers to engage in ‘terrorism and violence’.
PTI and PML-N activists confront each other at Bhaati chowk
Rallying activists of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz came face to face in Lahore’s Bhaati Chowk area with both sides chanting slogans against leaders of their opposing parties.
PTI is holding protests at various areas of Lahore as part of the party’s Plan C. The demonstrators are shouting slogans against the government and in favour of their demands.
The PML-N activists had gathered to hold a demonstration against the PTI protestors. The PML-N supporters claimed that the PTI activists were forcefully closing shops and businesses in the city and added that their protests would continue until the shops and routes ‘forced shut by the PTI’ were not re-opened.
The sloganeering escalated into a physical clash between workers of both parties. The PML-N workers, who were greatly outnumbered by the PTI supporters, were forced to make a retreat.
PTI workers exit metro bus track
Activists of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), who had entered the metro bus track in Lahore’s Shahdrara area , exited the tracks peacefully after party leaders made announcements asking them to clear the location.
Apologies to Lahore, says Imran
Imran Khan speaking to reporters on Monday said , “I want to apologise to the residents of Lahore. We have been holding protests since the past four months but the government has left us with no other option but to take to the streets,” he said.
“If we do not make sacrifices today then our children would need to make sacrifices tomorrow.”
He added, “I have instructed our workers not to cause any hindrance to ambulances and the media. I would request the media to identify our workers in case they carry out any subverse activity. We will suspend those workers from the party and take action against them.”
Lahore Metro Bus services blocked
A number of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) activists entered the metro bus track in Lahore’s Shahdara area suspending the Metro Bus services.
PTI’s Shafqat Mehmood says no one being coerced to shut shop
Speaking to DawnNews, PTI leader Shafqat Mehmood, who is in Lahore for the shutdown call, said: Imran Khan had already said that those who are satisfied with the system can go about their businesses as usual.
Mehmood said PTI workers and supporters were not coercing anyone to shut their shops.
Regarding the blocking of vehicular traffic, the PTI leader said: We had said that we would block roads, obviously vehicular traffic would come to a standstill in that case.
He added that his party was conscious of the difficulties being faced by the people of Lahore and said PTI was engaged in the capital sit-in for a bigger, national cause.
PML-N workers stage demonstration against PTI shutdown
Activists of the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) have taken to the streets in Lahore’s Chungi Amar Sidhu area where they are chanting slogans against PTI.
The protesters said they had taken to the streets to peacefully protest what they called the forced closure of roads and markets by PTI which was causing difficulties to the residents of Lahore.
PTI supporters protesting near Punjab Assembly
Lahore up and running, PTI approach fascist: Pervaiz Rasheed
Speaking to DawnNews via telephone, Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed said Lahore was up and running, adding that PTI had adopted a fascist approach.
Rasheed added that PTI workers were burning tyres on the roads and had also pelted stones on metro buses.
He said PTI workers were also coercing people and stopping them from going to their workplaces.
Schools partially closed in Lahore
Educational institutions in Lahore remain partially closed. Private schools had announced that they would remain closed today due to the shutdown call made by PTI.
Government schools and colleges, on the other hand, had announced that exams and classes would proceed as per schedule.
Students who have no option but to attend schools for their exams are facing difficulties as several routes remain blocked in Lahore.
Television footage has been showing a school van at a PTI protest site delivering tyres to be burnt by demonstrators.
Punjab Secretariat employees reach offices one hour ahead of time
Employees of the Punjab Secretariat in Lahore are reaching their offices ahead of their daily routine with PTI’s call of a shutdown today.
Television reports say staffers began reaching the Punjab Secretariat premises from 6 am onwards although the normal time for employees to turn up at work is between 8-10 am.
— Reporting by Shahrukh Bukhari
Activists gather and block roads in Lahore
PTI activists gather at various locations in Lahore where some can be seen to be burning tyres and attempting to block roads for vehicular traffic. Some of the blocked areas include Mall Road, Liberty chowk, Bhutta chowk, Town Hall chowk and the area outside Punjab Assembly.
A tweet on the party’s official account claimed that PTI had planned to block 18 locations in the provincial capital city and that all the locations had been successfully blocked.
