Imran supporters clash with police; cop killed, several taken ‘hostage’
Leaders meet Imran in jail
- Party chairman Gohar Ali Khan, accompanied by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Information Advisor Barrister Saif, and PTI leader Ali Mohammad Khan, met with the jailed party founder, the Express Tribune reported
- Sources said the purpose of the meeting was to brief Khan on the latest developments concerning the Islamabad protest and to take his guidance on the matter
A policeman was killed and 70 injured when former prime minister Imran Khan’s supporters clashed with security personnel deployed to prevent the protesters from reaching Islamabad, the Punjab government said on Monday.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari, at a press conference here, said many policemen were taken “hostage” after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters clashed with the police on the way to Islamabad. The 72-year-old former premier issued a “final call” on November 13 for nationwide protests on November 24, denouncing what he termed as the stolen mandate, the unjust arrests of people and the passage of the 26th amendment, which he said has strengthened a “dictatorial regime”.
His supporters resumed march towards Islamabad on Monday after an overnight stop on the way amid stiff resistance by the authorities to foil their attempt to enter the national capital and stage a sit-in at the D-Chowk, located close to several important government buildings: the Presidency, the PM Office, the Parliament, and the Supreme Court.
At least 70 policemen have been injured and one killed in clashes, she said.
Bokhari said Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi was setting the country on fire.
Meanwhile, the Punjab province of over 120 million people remained cut off from the rest of the country following the second consecutive day of the protest march.
