Pitched battles broke out between police and participants of “long march” for restoration of an independent judiciary turned into ugly clashes. Police in riot gear confronted a previously peaceful protest near the high court buildings, launching baton charges and firing teargas rounds at thousands of marchers, who in turn pelted officers with stones. Muslim League (N) leader Khawaja Saad Rafiq has said over 2000 policemen have cordoned off the residence of Mian Nawaz Sharif. Talking to media outside the residence of Nawaz Sharif in Lahore’s Model Town. Mobs accompanying the convoy of opposition leader Nawaz Sharif smashed the windows of buses parked along the route. Others torched tyres, sending plumes of black smoke into the blue sky over a usually bustling boulevard littered with stones and empty teargas shells.
It is said all roads of Pakistan have been sealed, hostels have been vacated and the government has paralyzed the life all over the country.
Police is beating the Long Marcher
Entry points of Islamabad, Pindi blocked
Meanwhile all entry points of the twin cities of Rawalpindi, Islamabad and adjoining areas have been blocked to stop the participants of long march, making it difficult for ambulances and Rescue 1122 vehicles to operate. The authorities have erected large barricades at Gojar Khan, Deena, Rwat, Mandra, Sohada and other points to block the marchers from entering the federal capital. Every vehicle is being thoroughly searched by the police. All CNG stations and petrol pumps located at roads leading to Rawalpindi and Islamabad have been closed for two days. According to reports, it has become difficult for the patients to reach hospital due the blockades.
Roads are being blocked on entry points of Islamabad
Sharifs movements was confined:
While Muslim League-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif has defied an apparent house arrest order to head for a protest in Lahore. Describing the order – denied by the government – as “illegal” he left his Lahore home urging people to join him. Police fired tear gas at the stone-throwing protesters who plan to march to Islamabad to demand judges sacked by the former government be reinstated. Muslim League-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif said,
“We do not accept these house arrests, the day for coming out of the house has come, taking Pakistan to its destiny has arrived today”.
Addressing the workers outside his residence at Model Town on Sunday, he said that the country today has been turned into a police state and a curfew-like situation prevailing in the country, the blockades would pass by, as these could not stop. He said that the government using vindictive tactics was itself ravaging the laws. He said that these curbs could not arrest the sentiments of the Pakistanis. Nawaz declared these courts, government orders etc were all illegal, we would not stop because of this and we not stop until taking Pakistan to its destiny. He urged upon the administration personnel present over there to remove the blockades and not to stop any body and he warned them to remove illegal barriers. Nawaz Sharif said that Pakistan has given a call to you today once again after 1947, all should come out.
Nawaz Sharif addressing at his before leaving for Long March
Yesterday Government decided to restrict Sharif brothers to Raiwind in an effort to prevent them to take part in long march whereas their security has also beefed up. Early this morning PML-N spokesman Pervez Rashid told Pakistan Times that security provided to Nawaz Sharif from Punjab government has been removed. According to sources, the contingent of Elite Force has also removed.
Qazi, Imran, Shahbaz reach Islamabad
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif reached at the residence of a party leader Chaudhry Tanveer in Rawalpindi on Sunday and later left the house after breakfast. According to reports Jamat Islami Chief Qazi Hussain, Liaquat Baloch, Imran Khan and some other leaders have also dodged the police and reached Islamabad. A police contingent has surrounded Jamat Islami headquarter Mansoora in Lahore. Meanwhile, JI leader Farid Paracha refused to receive the detention orders of Qazi Hussain Ahmed from the Ministry of Interior.
Govt offers parade ground for sit-in
However Interior advisor Rehman Malik has offered Sharif brothers to stage sit-in in a parade ground in Shakarparian. Talking to media here, Rehman Malik said no comprise will be made on security of Parliament and Red Zone. Lawyers and Sharif brothers will stage sit-in in parade ground where security arrangements have already been made for them. He said no arrest orders were issued for Sharif brothers. While Federal Minister for Information Qamar-uz-Zaman Kaira has said the government will not allow sit-in for indefinite period in Islamabad. Talking to media, Kaira said that they were not against the protest but the protest which affects the writ of government cannot be allowed.
Aitzaz breaks police’s siege
While in Lahore according to sources Former President Supreme Court Bar Association Aitzaz Ahsan managed to escape house arrest and arrived at GPO Chowk, Lahore to participate in the long march. According to sources, Aitzaz Ahsan was detained at his residence where heavy contingent of police of deployed but he managed to escape and reached at GPO Chowk. Talking to media here at GPO Chowk, he said the detention was illegal.
