Imran Khan supporters block roads near Pakistani capital
Political tension rises after failed bid to assassinate the former prime minister
08 November 2022 - 15:48
byAsif Shahzad
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People climb on barriers along the route taken by former Prime Minister Imran Khan after he was discharged from Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, in Lahore, Pakistan on November 6 2022. Picture: REUTERS/MOHSIN RAZA
Islamabad — Supporters of former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan blocked roads near the capital on Tuesday, disrupting traffic and forcing schools to close, as they protested against a bid to assassinate their leader at a recent antigovernment rally.
The former cricket star, who has been pressing for a general election since he was ousted as prime minister after losing a confidence vote in parliament in April, was shot at the rally last Thursday. He is recovering from leg wounds.
“People are finding it very hard to go to work,” said police official Yawar Ali. “Families have been stuck in the traffic for hours. We’ve even got reports that the protesters have not let ambulances pass.”
Khan’s successor as prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, has rejected his demand for new polls and the deadlock has stoked instability in the nuclear-armed country of 220-million people.
Khan’s supporters began their protests on major roads around Islamabad late on Monday. They have blocked the highway to Islamabad’s international airport and the ones linking Islamabad to the cities of Lahore and Peshawar. Television footage showed his supporters burning tyres as they set up protest camps across roads.
The government ordered all state and private schools to shut for the day, according to an order seen by Reuters.
Khan launched what is known as a long-march protest rally from Lahore to Islamabad on October 28. He was waving to the crowd from a container mounted on a truck in Wazirabad city in Punjab province last Thursday when a man fired several shots at him. Khan was among 10 wounded people. One party worker was killed. Police have arrested the suspected shooter.
Khan’s party announced late on Monday that the march would resume on Thursday at the place of the attack, and he would lead it virtually.
The political tension comes as Pakistan is grappling with economic turmoil worsened by recent flooding that the government estimates caused economic losses of $30bn.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Imran Khan supporters block roads near Pakistani capital
Political tension rises after failed bid to assassinate the former prime minister
Islamabad — Supporters of former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan blocked roads near the capital on Tuesday, disrupting traffic and forcing schools to close, as they protested against a bid to assassinate their leader at a recent antigovernment rally.
The former cricket star, who has been pressing for a general election since he was ousted as prime minister after losing a confidence vote in parliament in April, was shot at the rally last Thursday. He is recovering from leg wounds.
“People are finding it very hard to go to work,” said police official Yawar Ali. “Families have been stuck in the traffic for hours. We’ve even got reports that the protesters have not let ambulances pass.”
Khan’s successor as prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, has rejected his demand for new polls and the deadlock has stoked instability in the nuclear-armed country of 220-million people.
Khan’s supporters began their protests on major roads around Islamabad late on Monday. They have blocked the highway to Islamabad’s international airport and the ones linking Islamabad to the cities of Lahore and Peshawar. Television footage showed his supporters burning tyres as they set up protest camps across roads.
The government ordered all state and private schools to shut for the day, according to an order seen by Reuters.
Khan launched what is known as a long-march protest rally from Lahore to Islamabad on October 28. He was waving to the crowd from a container mounted on a truck in Wazirabad city in Punjab province last Thursday when a man fired several shots at him. Khan was among 10 wounded people. One party worker was killed. Police have arrested the suspected shooter.
Khan’s party announced late on Monday that the march would resume on Thursday at the place of the attack, and he would lead it virtually.
The political tension comes as Pakistan is grappling with economic turmoil worsened by recent flooding that the government estimates caused economic losses of $30bn.
Reuters
Imran Khan’s party will protest after the shooting of its leader
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