Islamabad: Widespread clashes erupted in Islamabad during a march to the polls demanding the removal of ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan and his followers. Supporters of PTI, Imran Khan’s party, set fire to a metro station.
The Pakistan Supreme Court has allowed Imran Khan to hold a protest march in the country’s capital. He then called on his followers to gather in D-Chowk for a peaceful protest rally. With this, thousands of protesters gathered in the area and started removing the barricades. This led to clashes between police and activists. The Supreme Court has ordered the rally to be held at the ground in the H-9 sector of the capital. However, the ruling party alleged that Khan’s decision to hold a rally in D-Chowk violated the order.
Police have arrested hundreds of PTI activists and some leaders to prevent people from participating in March. In Punjab, there were reports of police using water cannons and harassing PTI supporters. Several women and children were reportedly injured in a police shooting in Liberty Chowk, Lahore.
The PML (N), the party of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, has accused Imran Khan’s supporters of marching in protest and planning an attack.