Clashes between activists of Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) and the Punjab Police broke out on Friday evening at Faisal Town crossings when PAT workers removed the containers put up by the administration to block all the roads leading to Minhajul Quran Institute. For some time, workers appeared to be successful in removing these hurdles and pushing back the police force deployed there. They used a crane to remove containers.
However, the police retaliated with full force and used tear gas and baton-charged PAT workers to disperse them. Police claimed that some policemen suffered injuries when PAT workers pelted them with stones. Arrests of some PAT workers were reported during these clashes. Workers put up resistance to foil the advance of police towards Minhajul Quran Secretariat. Power supply to the area was also disconnected. Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) leader Raheeq Abbasi told media persons at Model Town that the Model Town had been turned into another Gaza by the rulers for the last three days. He said PAT workers wanted to come to Model Town to participate in 'Youm-e-Shuhda' announced for August 10 to offer prayers for those who lost their lives in the Model Town tragedy of June. But these workers were forcibly stopped from reaching Minhajul Quran Secretariat. He said that even the residents of Model Town were facing hardships because of police action.
Earlier, in his talk to reporters PAT Chief Dr. Tahir ul Qadri paid glowing tributes to his workers who had managed to reach Model Town despite all hurdles. He severely criticised the government for sealing the Model Town and termed it state terrorism. He said that they were not even allowed to have access to eatables.
"Punjab has been turned into a jail," said Qadri. Government has withdrawn the security of Tahirul Qadri and Chaudhry brothers. The "Rulers are terrorists," said Dr. Qadri. Qadri asks civil society and residents of Model Town to come forward and provide food and water to PAT workers. "If Imran Khan or any other makes compromise on their demands, then you people should come to me to take forward the revolution mission," Dr. Qadri told his supporters. After revolution, he said, the Sharif brothers would be required to answer each and everything for their misdeeds.
INP adds: Violence broke out in districts of Chiniot and Bhakkar after a clash between police and the workers of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), District Superintendent of Police (DSP) was among the injured. PAT workers staged a protest demonstration at Chanab Nagar in Chinniot. They were stopped by police from moving ahead.
Reuters adds: One man was killed and a police station partly burned as supporters of Tahirul Qadri clashed with police in several Punjab cities on Friday, officials said, before two large anti-government demonstrations planned for next week. Several families of detained activists told Reuters that police arrived in the middle of the night, banging down doors and dragging men out of their beds with no explanation.
The government says only a few dozen arrests have been made. But provincial law minister Rana Mashhood Ahmad told Reuters Friday that Qadri will be arrested and charged with terrorism offences for inciting violence. Abdul Majeeb, 26, was shot dead during clashes between Qadri supporters and police in the town of Bhakkar, said Dr Saad Ahmad at Nishtar hospital in Multan.
Qadri supporters ransacked a police station and set parts of it on fire in the city of Qaidabad, witnesses said, after some of their colleagues had been arrested. Protesters also seized a police inspector and two constables in Depalpur, 360 kilometers south of the capital, police said.
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