Imran says tsunami on Nov 2 cannot be stopped as PTI workers, police clash in Bani Gala

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GEO NEWS
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan speaking to journalists' outside his Bani Gala residence vowed that his party’s planned Islamabad sit-in could not be stopped.  

In response to a question on if he would be going to Rawalpindi, Khan replied that his party’s target was November 2. "Wait for November 2; even 50,000 policemen will not be able to stop the tsunami." 

Khan who was confined to his Bani Gala residence throughout the day on Friday asked what law had he broken to almost be placed under house arrest.

Khan said the government was not following court orders. “I ask from the government of Nawaz Sharif that is this democracy or a monarchy. When there was an Islamabad High Court order to not block areas, why was the entire Bani Gala closed. Why was I almost placed under house arrest.”  

“I ask the judiciary why was I stopped from going to Sheikh Rasheed’s rally in Rawalpindi.”

The PTI chairman told workers to get ready for November 2. "We will show what peoples power is and change the destiny of the country. Nawaz Sharif I will demand your accountability until I am alive," Khan said. 

“People have found out that Nawaz Sharif only wants to hide his corruption.”

 “I will 100 per cent appear before the Supreme Court on November 1,” Khan said, adding that he would consult with lawyers about appearing before the Islamabad High Court. 

The PTI chairman said the planning for November 2 was taking place in Bani Gala. 

PTI workers clash with police in Bani Gala, scores arrested

PTI workers clashed with police at Pakistan Chowk in Bani Gala as they gathered there time and again, and pelted stones at police. The law enforcers fired tear-gas shells to disperse the PTI workers, forcing them to take refuge in narrow alleys in the vicinity.

Police also baton-charged the protesters and apprehended a number of them. Officials said the arrested masses were PTI workers, who had arrived in Bani Gala from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

A caravan of PTI workers, led by KP Minister for Wildlife Muhibullah Khan, had earlier reached Bani Gala.

PTI workers, police clash in Bani Gala
PTI workers, police clash in Bani Gala

'Time to rid country of corruption'

Speaking to media, PTI spokesman Naeemul Haq termed today as the 'darkest day' in political history of the country and said that a time had come to rid Pakistan of corruption.

"Even I was stopped from entering Imran Khan’s house," he said, alleging police of 'torturing and illegally' arresting PTI workers.

Reacting to musician Salman Ahmed's arrest, the PTI spokesman reminded that Ahmed was an ambassador of the United Nation’s for its anti-polio campaign.

Haq contended that the protest in Rawalpindi was in accordance with the Constitution of Pakistan and the government itself violated the Islamabad High Court’s orders barring illegal arrest of workers.

Imran chairs PTI meeting

Earlier, Imran Khan chaired a meeting of party representatives at his Bani Gala residence. According to sources, the meeting discussed Imran Khan's departure for Rawalpindi where he planned to attend a rally of Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed at Lal Haveli. 

The second point of discussion was Imran Khan being summoned by the Islamabad High Court on October 31. Imran Khan's legal team has advised him to appear before the IHC. 

Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner had directed IG Police to take all measures and ensure that Imran Khan is stopped from going to Rawalpindi.

Roads leading from Murree Road to Bani Gala where the PTI chief resides were closed and large contingents of police and Frontier Constabulary personnel were deployed in Bani Gala.

PTI leaders Faisal Javed, Murad Saeed and MNA Aqibullah were stopped from going to Imran Khan's residence in Bani Gala. Speaking to Geo News Faisal Javed said the party had several plans in place. "We have plan b and plan c. We will announce our plan after a little while. People are ready and they cannot stop Imran Khan today. They cannot stop the preparations for November 2," Javed said.

Salman Ahmad detained

Musician Salman Ahmad was taken into police custody from Bani Gala as he was trying to reach the residence of PTI chairman Imran Khan.

Salman Ahmad was later released by the police, but the musician claimed he had managed to flee from police custody because the prison van was not locked properly.

Salman Ahmad being detained by police in Bani Gala
Salman Ahmad being detained by police in Bani Gala

Islamabad Administration writes letter to Imran 

The city’s administration wrote a letter to Imran Khan informing him of Section 144 being imposed.

The letter states that it is the responsibility of the administration and political parties to ensure safety of citizens and their property.

According to the letter disruption of peace and breach of law will not be allowed.

Protestors, police clash on Committee Chowk

Protestors from the PTI and AML clashed with police on Committee Chowk. According to reports protestors along with PTI MPA Aijaz Khan Jazi were arrested during the clashes. 

According to reports, people on Committee Chowk are pelting police with stones. The police baton-charged and are using tear gas to disperse the protestors.

AML chief arrived at Committee Chowk on a motorcycle and addressed protestors. "You said I was hiding, but I came here despite all obstacles," Rasheed said as he challenged authorities to arrest him.  

Screen grab- Police crackdown on PTI workers in Rawalpindi
Police crackdown on PTI workers in Rawalpindi

Containers used to block access to Lal Haveli

Containers were placed on roads leading to Lal Haveli the residence of Sheikh Rasheed in Rawalpindi.

The containers were placed by Rawalpindi Administration to stop people from reaching Lal Haveli to attend an AML rally.

Read: Roads to Lal Haveli blocked

Read: Sheikh Rasheed’s driver, guard arrested

Sheikh Rasheed had asked Imran Khan to reach Lal Haveli to attend the rally by helicopter or any other means.  

Sit-in outside Sindh governor's residence

In Karachi, PTI workers staged a protest sit-in outside the Sindh governor's residence near Fawara Cowk. The protest choked the nearby arteries making movement of vehicles extremely difficult.

Governor Dr. Ishratul Ebad received the protest letter from the local leadership of Tehreek-e-Insaf, after which the workers dispersed.

PTI protest in Karachi
PTI protest in Karachi

PTI, AML workers arrested

On Thursday Islamabad police stormed PTI’s youth convention in Islamabad and arrested scores of party activists on the charge of violating section 144.

At least 120 members of the Insaf Students Federation (ISF) were arrested Thursday evening in a crackdown by law enforcement personnel against PTI in Islamabad ahead of a major anti-government protest on November 2.

Scuffles broke out between law enforcers and PTI leaders present at the venue of the youth convention, from where the ISF workers were arrested.

Video footage showed police and FC personnel baton-charging and arresting PTI workers at the venue of the convention. A scuffle broke out between the law enforcers and senior PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who argued with the personnel demanding an explanation for the arrests.

Two workers of AML were also arrested by the police in a crackdown outside Lal Haveli, AML chief Sheikh Rasheed’s residence.