Islamabad: Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan is leading a 400-km-long protest march of thousands of supporters from Lahore to Islamabad demanding early general elections. The march entered its third day on Sunday and is expected to reach Islamabad on November 4 with convoys from nearby cities and towns.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) kicked off its “long march” from Lahore’s Liberty Chowk on Friday. By Sunday afternoon, the demonstrators were on their way to Sadhoke, which is some 60km away from where they started the protest in Lahore. The peaceful protest witnessed a massive participation of families, women and children. Videos showed people coming out on the rooftops and windows to greet the marchers. The protest is expected to gain momentum when convoys from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir begin converging in Islamabad.
One demand - early elections
“This will be the largest gathering of people in the country’s history,” said PTI chief Imran Khan. He expects more than a million people to join him in Islamabad to mount pressure on the government to call snap elections. However, the government claims that the march could not attract as many people as expected.
“Early election is our number one demand. Because we want the people of Pakistan to elect a government through their vote” he told journalists. Khan dismissed speculation that he had left his protest march to the federal capital to hold negotiations with the government. “The only demand I have had for six months is date for early fair and free elections. That will be the only demand if talks are to be held,” he said in an indication that he is open to meaningful dialogue but would continue to push for elections.
Government deploys troops, puts up barricades
In Islamabad, the government has deployed thousands of security personnel to stop the demonstrators from entering the capital city. The interior ministry has decided to deploy around 30,000 police, rangers, and para-military troops in Islamabad. Hundreds of containers have already been deployed in Islamabad to barricade all entry points. Steel containers have been stacked on top of each other to block roads leading to Parliament and to the diplomatic enclave in the capital Islamabad.
Islamabad law enforcers would be equipped with hundreds of teargas guns, 50,000 teargas shells, 12-bore guns, and pepper ball guns to control crowds and maintain the law and order situation, according to local media. “Police and FC will form the first line of defence and they would be armed with tear gas [shells] and rubber bullets to control the mob. And if needed, the rangers and the army will be there to support,” Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah told the media. Islamabad police was criticised over its use of heavy shelling of tear gas and baton beatings on Khan’s supporters, including families, during the protest in May.
Media ban and threats
There is also a media ban in place. Pakistan’s electronic media regulator PEMRA has issued an advisory, imposing a ban on all private TV channels from broadcasting live videos of the protest or speeches by PTI leaders.
Imran Khan has been demanding fresh elections since his ouster in April in a no-confidence vote. Khan has refused to recognize Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government which he claims is part of a “US-backed regime change”. Sharif’s government has rejected Khan’s allegations and demands saying that elections would be held late next year, as per schedule.
PTI postpones march after tragic death of reporter
A woman TV journalist covering PTI’s long march has died after reportedly falling from one of the containers on Sunday.
Sadaf Naeem, a reporter of Channel 5, was reportedly crushed by a container and died on the spot near Sadhoke.
PTI called off today’s protest after “tragic and accidental death of a female journalist” and party leaders offered condolences to the family. Imran Khan said that he has “no words to express” sorrow over the death of the reporter.
“Shocked and deeply saddened by the terrible accident that led to the death of Channel 5 reporter Sadaf Naeem during our March today. My prayers and condolences go to the family at this tragic time,” he said, adding that he decided to immediately end the march for today.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed regret over the accident and extended his condolences to the family.
