Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has called off its protest. According to Pakistani website The Dawn, the party made the announcement on Wednesday morning. PTI said any further decision would be taken on the advice of Imran Khan.
The PTI said in a press release, 'The government is ready to brutally kill unarmed citizens. They are temporarily suspending their peaceful protest to prevent Islamabad from becoming a slaughterhouse.
Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM Ali Amin were leading the Gandapur demonstration. According to reports, Gandapur late on Tuesday night asked the protesters to go home. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi told a press conference that the two fled fearing arrest.
See protest in Pakistan in 4 pictures…
Bushra Bibi with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Gandapur (holding mic) during the demonstration.
Security personnel fired tear gas shells at the demonstrators.
Demonstrators pelting stones at security personnel.
Demonstrators attacking security personnel with bullets.
Minister Tarar said – there was a plan to attack Parliament House
Dawn quoted sources as saying that Gandapur and Bushra Bibi walked away from the protest and have not been seen since. Pakistan's Information Minister Ata Tarar claimed that both have returned to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Tarar alleged that the PTI had planned to attack Parliament as well. He said that for this reason he set fire to the container while fleeing. They lived in this container before escaping. He didn't want the security guards to find any evidence related to the demonstration after he left.
Protests started in Pakistan on November 24 over the release of Imran Khan. At least 7 people lost their lives in the protests that lasted for 3 days. Including 4 protestors and 3 policemen. Security personnel have also arrested more than 500 protesters.
The army dispersed the protestors
Imran Khan's supporters reached Islamabad's D-Chowk on Tuesday afternoon. Parliament, PM, President's Office and Supreme Court are located in this area. However, Pakistani police and army dispersed the protesters after 8 pm.
PTI supporters clashed with security personnel in the federal capital throughout the day on Tuesday. More than 60 people were injured during the demonstration as tear gas and rubber bullets were fired by both sides. Article 245 was imposed in the capital Islamabad to deal with the violence. The protesters were ordered to be shot on sight.
A case has been registered against Imran in the death of a policeman
Taxila police have registered a case against Imran Khan and CM Gandapur in connection with the death of a police constable on Tuesday. The FIR states that the protesters armed with tear gas, rubber bullet guns and other weapons violently attacked the police officers.
According to the FIR, people belonging to the PTI injured constable Mubashir Hasan and abducted him in a red van. After this he was thrown under the Hakala Bridge. Constable Hasan was taken to hospital, but he died.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).