LONDON (Bywire News) - Imran Khan, Pakistan’s former Prime Minister, called off his assembly of protesters on Thursday. The decision came following hours of a feud with police outside parliament the evening before. Khan alerted that he and his allies would return unless given the agreement of re-election within six days.
"I'm giving you six days. You announce elections in six days," Khan ushered from the top of a truck leading into Islamabad, followed by thousands of his devotees.
Khan’s ultimatum stands as a result of his belief in a U.S conspiracy, which led to ousting his position of power and reinstating a coalition led by their now Prime Minister, Shahbaz Sharif. Khan’s protest and issuing of the ultimatum call for the disbanding of Parliament so that new elections may be held in June. Through this election, Khan hopes to demonstrate his mass national support.
He proceeded to warn the government that this would not be the final mass rally in the place where his pressing demands were not met.
Orders had been issued during the late hours of Wednesday allowing Khan and his supporters a sphere where they could openly rally. The Supreme Court’s orders and removal of police blockades at entry/exit ports to the city were disregarded and protesters instead took their march into Islamabad, the capital. Here, they clashed with police over the course of numerous hours until Khan too had reached the heart of the city.
Protesters set fire to trees, buildings, and vehicles as they edged toward Parliament. The police used tear gas and batons, detaining hundreds of those who had gone beyond their limits. Despite heavy opposition from the part of the police, a select few of the resistance were able to advance into areas just bordering Parliament.
Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb says that at least 18 police had been wounded.
This demanding clash has multiplied across the country in areas such as Karachi and in the Punjab province.
With barriers placed all across entry/exit ports connecting major areas, and roads leading to important government offices blocked off, Khan’s march had been visibly condemned. The government described it as led with “evil intentions”.
Police have since begun moving shipping containers blocking road ports on Thursday.
(Writing by Anna Kapanadze, editing by Klaudia Fior)