Wed 25 May 2022:
As PTI’s Azadi March began on Wednesday, tensions in Punjab rose after police made use of tear gas and arrested several PTI marchers in Lahore as activists attempted to remove the shipping containers between them and Islamabad.
It came after PTI chairman Imran Khan exhorted his supporters yesterday to embark on their march for “true freedom” towards Islamabad, just a day after the government said it would not allow the march. In response, Imran called on the youth to remove the obstacles themselves.
Pakistan authorities used dozens of shipping containers and trucks to block off major roads into the capital Islamabad on Wednesday, after a defiant former Prime Minister Imran Khan said he would march with demonstrators to the city center for a rally he hopes will bring down the government and force early elections.
The march has raised fears of major violence between supporters of Khan — the country’s top opposition leader — and security forces. Already in the morning, riot police fired tear gas and pushed back hundreds of stone-throwing demonstrators who were trying to pass a roadblocked bridge near Lahore to board busses bound for Islamabad. A dozen demonstrators and several policemen were injured.
Imran Khan had arrived at the Wali Interchange in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by helicopter. Footage of Imran arriving at the interchange showed PTI activists converging on the chopper.
Imran Khan, later, departed for Islamabad from the Wali Interchange in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Afterwards, PTI tweeted a photo of Imran waving to supporters from a truck adorned with PTI colours.
Imran Khan leading from the front with the flag of Pakistan 🇵🇰.
Here we are fighting for Haqeeqi Azadi, the sovereignty of our motherland 🔥Now or never, it’s time for action.@ImranKhanPTI#امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور
#حقیقی_آزادی_مارچ pic.twitter.com/Z7aTpSUT9f— Chocolate 🇵🇸🇵🇰 (@jiminshiiii_iii) May 25, 2022
ہاتھ میں سبز ہلالی پرچم، دل میں وطن کی محبت، مشن حقیقی آزاد خوددار پاکستان نکل پڑا ہے اب کپتان انشاء اللہ جیت پاکستان کی ہوگی۔#حقیقی_آزادی_مارچ pic.twitter.com/RMVNII96Wj
— Staunch Insafi (@StaunchInsafi) May 25, 2022
گوجرانوالہ سے چیئرمین جی ڈی اے علی اشرف مغل کی قیادت میں اسلام آباد کی طرف رواں دواں#حقیقی_آزادی_مارچ#امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/t8BGwrSbiR
— Tehreek-e-Insaf (@InsafPK) May 25, 2022
Shahid Khattak (@ShahidkhattakSk ) leads a huge rally from Karak! #حقیقی_آزادی_مارچ pic.twitter.com/yIW8z1rg0l
— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 25, 2022
‘No blockade can stop us’
After reaching Swabi, Imran, holding a Pakistan flag, delivered a speech to supporters. In it, he said that “we are going to D-Chowk and no one can stop us” as the crowd cheered.
Calling the incumbent government a “group of thieves”, he termed them the most corrupt people in the country of history and said that they were afraid of the people which is why they had placed containers.
He said that protesters were being detained and harassed as they participated in the Azadi March. Addressing politicians of the ruling coalition, Imran said that the PTI government did not bar any of them from staging protests as they “did not fear the people”.
He asserted that the government was afraid as they had been plundering national wealth for the past 30 years. “I want to give the people a message from Swabi Interchange: whatever you do, we will cross all obstacles and reach D-Chowk. Our protest will be peaceful as it has always been.”
Meanwhile, other party leaders departed from their respective locations, with Hammad Azhar, Yasmin Rashid and some others from Lahore, while Shahid Khattak departed from Karak. PTI’s Fayyazul Hasan Chohan could be seen on television footage departing for Islamabad on a motorcycle.
Activists break through wall in Faisalabad
PTI supporters and the police also clashed at the Kamalpur Interchange in Faisalabad. The marchers, however, advanced after breaking through the wall of the Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA).
The police office also tried to stop the party workers near the motorway after which a scuffle broke out between both groups.
Other cities
Aside from Gujranwala, Sadhoke, Chanab Bridge, Khanki Headway and the city area have been completely blocked.
At 1:32pm, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry tweeted that after shelling marchers, a shot has been fired on them in Mangla — a village situated on the border of Kashmir and Jhelum — some 120kms from Islamabad.
In another video, Fawad, who is allegedly stuck on the Mangla bridge, said that three PTI workers suffered severe injuries due to shelling by the police. “Several cars have suffered damage too. The Punjab police entered the jurisdiction of Kashmir and shelled us,” he said.
“But more people are coming. And I want to appeal to the people of Jhelum and Kashmir to join us at the Mangla bridge. We will head to Islamabad from here,” Chaudhry added.
Earlier, the former information minister had said that the Mangla bridge was blocked by the police.
Islamabad
Police have blocked the Niazi Chowk in Bani Gala, a few kilometres away from Imran Khan’s residence, DawnNewsTV reported. The Islamabad police have established a checkpost there, while approximately 2,000 Punjab police officers have been posted.
Karachi
Meanwhile, PTI supporters in Karachi have started gathering near the Numaish Chowrangi to “register their demand for immediate, free & fair elections”.
“Karachi is about to make its own Azadi Square as Kaptaan’s caravan and other rallies head towards Islamabad,” PTI tweeted.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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