ISLAMABAD-
Around 498 people have been wounded in clashes between police and protesters in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, hospital officials said Sunday, as a fortnight-long political impasse took a violent turn.
The violence, which began late Saturday and continued early Sunday, erupted after around 25,000 people marched from parliament to the prime minister’s house, where some attempted to remove barricades around it with cranes.
Police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.
As violence continued on Sunday morning, political parties across the country condemned the incident .
PTI condemns, appeals for end to violence
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Jahangir Tareen termed the government’s action as undemocratic and held it responsible for shoving the country in flames.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak termed the ongoing protest as a constitutional right of the people, adding that the country needs to get rid of the present ruling class.
The CM accused media of siding with the PML-N government, claiming that had the media been free the country would not have been in such a state.
PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi has termed the government’s actions as ‘dictatorial’.
Speaking to a private news channel, Qureshi demanded legal action against those attacking the protestors.
He said that PTI had decided to register an FIR against Punjab Police for attacking unarmed protestors.
He appealed to stop use of violence against the protestors and added that PTI seeks an end to the deadlock.
He added that a meeting with government representatives had been scheduled for today but there has been no sign of progress from their side.
PTI is staging protests in the major cities of the country including Lahore, Mianwali, Multan, Jacobabad, Tando Mohammad Khan, Mirpurkhas, Quetta, Noshehro Feroz, Khanewal, Kandhkot, Tando Allahyar, Jhang and other cities.
MQM, MWM mourn in Karachi
Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM), Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) are observing a ‘day of mourning’ in Karachi.
Business centres remained shut whie roads remained deserted as public transport services are suspended.
MQM hoisted black flags on its offices across the metropolitan.
‘Darkest day in history’: ex-PM Gilani
Former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani condemned the ongoing violence in Red Zone and termed the incident as the ‘darkest day in Pakistan’s history’.
He condemned the use of force against protestors adding that such an action had not been taken even by the military rulers of the country.
He appeal to deal with the crisis politically and avoid use of force.
JI seeks resolution to crisis
Jamat-e-Islami Chief Sirajul Haq said that he had attempted numerous times to prevent the present situation from happening and vowed to continue with his efforts.
He advised PM Nawaz Sharif to contact PTI chief Imran Khan, adding that the crisis needs to be dealt with patience and tolerance.
What did Khan and Qadri expect to happen, this was on the cards from the start. Both men should be arrested and charged with SEDITION.It was all bound to end in disaster.
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