Countrywide protests erupt against attack on Imran Khan, PTI activists clash with police

Islamabad/Lahore/Karachi: The countrywide protests broke out across the country on Friday to condemn gunfire attack on PTI Chairman Imran Khan in Wazirabad.

The protests started after Friday prayers after a call given by the party leadership.

The protests took place in Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar, Malakand, Rajanpur, Bahawalnagar, Muzaffargarh, and Kohat, among others.

A major clash happened between the Islamabad protesters and the police at Rawalpindi’s Faizabad Interchange.

Policemen intermittently fired tear gas shells to disperse protestors in the area who resorted to stone-pelting on the police and Frontier Corps (FC).

Several PTI workers were taken into custody by the Islamabad Police and FC in Islamabad. Murree Road was closed to traffic in Rawalpindi. 

Islamabad Police took to Twitter to inform the public about the situation in the twin cities.

Earlier, protesters blocked Rawalpindi’s GT Road from both sides which affected traffic in the area. After workers ended their protests in Rawat, GT Road has been cleared for traffic. PTI’s women workers, on the other hand, left after protesting at the National Press Club.

-- Lahore show --

Protestors in Lahore held demonstrations against the federal government. Earlier, PTI workers and supporters vandalised public property outside the Governor House’s gate at Lahore’s Mall Road resulting in a traffic jam before ending the protest, as the police reached the spot.

Earlier, some PTI supporters jumped the Governor House’s gate while holding PTI flags in their hands and placing them on the gate, while others tried to trespass barriers placed by law enforcement.

Meanwhile, lawyers of the Insaf Lawyer’s Forum also gathered at the venue earlier. Demonstrations have affected traffic at Lahore’s Thokar Niaz Baig and Shahdara Chowk, as well as at Mall Road’s GPO intersection.

The PTI workers also gathered at the Maulana Zafar Ali Khan intersection in Wazirabad, where PTI workers blocked the traffic moving from Lahore to Islamabad.

In Lahore, the party's workers and supporters are being led by Senator Ejaz Chaudhry.

-- Karachi, Hyderabad --

Police took on violent protesters in Karachi. Karachi Police baton-charged and fired tear gas shells at the protesters on the city's crucial artery to ensure their dispersal.

PTI MPA Raja Azhar Khan suffered injuries due to the police’s baton-charge and stampede on Shahrah-e-Faisal. He vowed to move court against SSP South.

“Shelling and rubber bullets cannot bring down our morale,” he added.

Police, however, said that around 300 to 500 protesters were heading toward Metropole from the Gora Qabaristan (Christian’s cemetery). The protesters didn't stop despite several warnings. Finally, the police used tear gas near Jinnah Hospital Mor to disperse the protestors.

Two hours after the clashes, the police finally managed to disperse the protesters and fully restore the vehicular traffic on Shahrah-e-Faisal.

The PTI’s supporters staged protests against the assassination attempt on Khan near Jinnah Hospital Mor. The police also took several protestors, including women into custody.

Owing to the clashes, the lane between Jinnah Hospital Mor to Metropole signal was blocked for all kinds of traffic. Another track leading from Saddar police station to the Metropole signal was also blocked.

In Hyderabad, supporters protested at the Haider intersection, while protesters also gathered in Tharparkar's Kashmir intersection.

-- Peshawar --

In Peshawar, protestors gathered at and blocked the Motorway Interchange. They raised slogans against the federal government and in favour of Imran Khan.

-- Quetta --

In Quetta, party workers protested at the Mannan Chowk where provincial leaders were also present.

-- Other Punjab cities --

Traffic was closed due to protests at the Milad intersection in Lodhran.

Workers lodged protest at the Main Bazaar in Mansehra, while protests also held in Orakzai's Ghilju Bazar Anjani, Feroze Khel, Headquarters intersection, and Buland Khel areas.

In Gujrat, various areas were closed to traffic, while PTI workers blocked the Shaheen Bypass Road.

In Bahawalnagar, protests took place in Rafiq Shah, while in Rajanpur, supporters conducted a sit-in at Chowk Allahabad, Rojhan, Fazilpur, and Jampur.

In Rajanpur, PTI workers blocked the Sindh-Punjab border by burning tyres, which has caused a long queue of vehicles stuck in traffic.