PTI President predicts Martial Law displeased with Imran Khan

Islamabad: Javed Hashmi, President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, has said that he cannot see a lot of distance between the current scenario being taken over marshal law.

The comment comes after clashes in the country between protestors and the police began late Saturday and continued early Sunday. It erupted with a 25,000 strong crowd and left over three Killed, more than 400 people injured, and over a 100 arrested. Clashes have also seen media attacked and DSNG’s damaged.

It begun as the opposition groups attempted to storm the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s residence, using cranes to remove barricades. The police were ordered to use tear gas and rubber bullets to stop the aggressive mobs.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf chief Imran Khan said during the clashes that he was inside a shipping container in front of the prime minister’s house. “We will continue our struggle against the government, till our last breath,” Khan said, calling for demonstrations across Pakistan.

Hashmi revealed that he warned Imran Khan from proceeding ahead as he could sense bloodshed – the foresight backed by another senior member Shah Mahmood Qureshi. But Imran Khan refused to stop as he thought it was time to do take an action.

The PTI President spoke of his past and fighting for democracy, going to jail and being beaten, but thought Imran Khan’s step was wrong.

For the past 17 days verbal clashes and disagreements had hung in the air between the Governement and Pakistan Tehreek –e- Insaaf (PTI); opposition party, and Minhaj-ul-Quran/ Pakistan Awami Tehreek(PAT); a religious party.  Both parties turned to the roads to get their demands/agenda fulfilled from the government and swore to sit on the streets till their deals were guaranteed.

The swarms of people included men, women and children of all ages, the enthusiasm and motivation of these people shone on their faces as no heat or rain could move them from their respective places. The long marches started from Lahore on the 14th August night and moved towards Islamabad their demand was to sit on the D Chowk of the capital to protest.

The result of the days in peaceful protest became violence after Nawaz Prime and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif refused to quit their posts.

Opposition groups claim the 2013 election which swept Sharif to power was rigged.  

Islamabad police Chief Khalid Khattak said police exercised restraint but the protesters were armed with axes, wire cutters and hammers.

“They had a crane and drove it until the entrance of the presidency. We are using only tear gas and firing rubber bullets where needed,” Khattak said.

Railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said protesters tried to uproot the entry gate of the prime minister’s house.

The crisis took on a new dimension earlier in the week after the government asked the powerful army to mediate, raising fears the military would use the situation to enact a “soft coup” and increase its dominance over civilian authorities.

“There are 1,600 to 2,000 trained terrorists. They have 200 women who are trained in the use of firearms and they have come with the intention of occupying state buildings,” Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told AFP as the fighting broke out on late Saturday.

“These are buildings that are symbols of the state,” he said. “Their attempts are being resisted. And we will resist these with full force.”

The injured were rushed to Islamabad’s two main hospitals, and the number of casualties is expected to rise as clashes continue.

Wasim Khawaja, spokesman for the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences hospital in Islamabad, said that the hospital received dead body of one person which was found in a rivulet at the protest site.

“He died of heart attack,” Khwaja said, adding 212 injured had been taken there, while the Poly Clinic hospital said it received 210 wounded.

There were more than 39 policemen, 36 woman and five children among the injured,” Khawaja said.

Khawaja also said most of the victims had been injured by rubber bullets.

At the Poly Clinic hospital, spokesman Khurram Ghuman said: “There are 25 women and 40 policemen among them and most have been affected by tear gas, stones and rubber bullets, but they all are in stable condition.”

A 15-month-old toddler was also brought in and Ghuman appealed for the parents to take the baby, who was safe and sound.

Private TV channels broadcast footage of protesters breaking the outer iron grill of parliament house and entering at the outer lawn but without entering the main building.

Demonstrations have also erupted in the eastern city of Lahore, Faislabad, Multan and the port city of Karachi. Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has announced a day of mourning to be observed in Karachi today (Sunday) and MQM chief Altaf Hussain has asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step down.

Protesters with batons have burned tires and blocked roads in Lahore, Police used batons and fired tear gas to disperse the demonstrators there.

Paramilitary troops and soldiers standing guard to protect the PM’s house as well as other sensitive installations have not yet been called into action, despite the violence on Sunday.

Women and children have been prominent among both protest groups, and the rising number of casualties is set to further polarise the already embittered political atmosphere.

But government officials defended the use of force. “The demonstrators attacked first. They wanted to occupy the prime minister’s house and stage a sit-in there,” said Sharif aide Asif Kirmani.

Qadri, however, said the government started the violence. “The march is heading to its destination, we were peaceful but government began the bloodshed,” he said.

Qadri was in a bullet-proof car close to the scene, according to television images.

The government earlier struck a defiant note, issuing a statement saying that Sharif would not be stepping down.

“There is no question of resignation or proceeding on leave by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, nor any member from the government side has made such suggestion,” it said.

Sharif had earlier dismissed the impasse as a “tiny storm” that would end soon.

On Friday, Nawaz Sharif left but returned after the clashes.

The government stated that no violence was incited by them and agreed that Imran Khan would not move ahead of a certain point.

It said it was wrong to be held hostage to have demands fulfilled, adding if such a trend occurred it would encourage a few thousands of people with a leader to topple government at any point of time.

The protest leaders have drawn thousands to the streets of Islamabad, but their call has not mobilised mass support in a country of 180 million people.