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At least one policeman has been killed and greater than 50 injured, Pakistan’s authorities say, as officers attempt to cease 1000’s of opposition protesters reaching Islamabad.
Scores of supporters of jailed former PM Imran Khan have been arrested and the capital is below lockdown for a second day.
Khan has been detained for greater than a yr on varied prices, however stays vastly common regardless of his authorized troubles.
His spouse, Bushra Bibi, advised supporters on Monday the march would proceed till her husband was freed.
Roads to D Chowk – a key level in central Islamabad close to authorities buildings, the Supreme Court and parliament – stay blocked with delivery containers to maintain protesters at bay. The streets are lined with coaches which have carried police from across the nation to the capital.
Paramilitaries in riot gear are lined up, water cannon prepared, however on Monday the environment was calm as protesters had been but to achieve town.
As information circulated that the protesters had been on the transfer, the police started to shut extra streets and transfer a few of their officers across the metropolis.
Some web providers have been suspended. Schools and schools have been shut due to fears of violence.
Imran Khan’s social gathering has been protesting for months. The newest rally got here after he issued a “final call” to his supporters, urging them to remain within the capital till their calls for had been met.
They are additionally calling for the overturning of election outcomes they are saying had been rigged – a declare disputed by the federal government.
The march, which started on Sunday, has seen police utilizing tear gasoline towards protesters, who’ve responded by pelting officers with stones.
Police advised the BBC on Monday that 139 individuals had been arrested.
Khan’s spouse is among the leaders of the primary convoy.
“Until Khan comes to us, we will not end this march,” Bushra Bibi advised crowds because the rally neared the capital.
“I will stand till my last breath and you have to support me. This is not just about my husband but about this country and its leader,” she mentioned.
Bushra Bibi was sentenced alongside Khan in January, however launched on bail in late October.
Although Khan has now been behind bars for greater than a yr, he’s nonetheless the dominant drive of Pakistan’s opposition politics.
He was voted out of energy by parliament in 2022 amid experiences that he had fallen out with the nation’s highly effective army.
He denies all the fees towards him, which vary from corruption to instigating violence to getting married to Bushra Bibi illegally.
In February’s basic election, his social gathering was banned from standing. Independent candidates backed by the PTI unexpectedly gained essentially the most seats – however not sufficient to kind a authorities.
Khan accused the 2 events now in authorities – the PML-N and PPP – of stealing the election. The authorities deny accusations of vote tampering.
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