ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) workers continued the protests and blockade of roads in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Wednesday despite party chief Imran Khan’s directives to end the protests that were causing inconvenience to motorists, travellers and the public at large.
On Wednesday, PTI workers staged a protest on Motorway (M2), IJP Road near Islamabad, Margalla Road, Pirwadhai Mor, Muree Road, Shamsabad and other areas in Rawalpindi.
The protesters burnt tyres and blocked roads by placing obstructions and barricades and staging sit-ins.
The PTI workers have been protesting on the road for the last three days demanding to register the FIR of the attempted murder on the party chief according to his demand.
Earlier, Imran Khan asked party workers to end the ongoing demonstrations as it was causing problems for the general public.
Earlier, the Islamabad administration sent a contingent of Rangers, FC and police to clear the blocked roads leading to the Islamabad airport and the M-2 motorway.
Rangers and FC personnel are also patrolling roads between the Rawalpindi-Islamabad interchange.
Meanwhile, Islamabad police have requested the federal government to extend their jurisdiction to the motorways especially M2 to maintain law and order under the prevailing situation.
Assassination Attempt on Khan Fuels Protest
The PTI workers have been protesting against the assassination attempt on Imran Khan who survived a gun attack on his convoy near Wazirabad during his anti-government rally.
During the shooting, Imran Khan sustained three bullets before he was taken to Lahore for surgery where doctors treated him for three days before he was discharged on November 6.
Long March Preparations
Meanwhile, the PTI has begun preparations to resume the long march from Thursday from Wazirabad where it was halted after the attack on Imran Khan, who has also announced to join the anti-government rally when it reaches Rawalpindi as he is recovering from the bullet wounds.
The PTI had halted the long march after the attack on Imran Khan in Wazirabad on November 3.
Imran Khan, 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 on November 3. He is recovering from leg wounds.
SC Orders Registration of FIR
On Monday (November 7) Pakistan’s Supreme Court directed the Punjab police inspector-general to register the FIR of the attack on Imran Khan.
After the Supreme Court order, the Wazirabad on Tuesday police registered the FIR of the attack on Imran Khan, however, it only nominated the arrested shooter (Naveed Ahmed) in the FIR under various terrorism charges.
Earlier, the Punjab police refused to book the persons Imran Khan had demanded to nominate in the FIR. Imran Khan was among 10 persons wounded during the while one of the party workers was killed.
Three-Member Panel Formed
Meanwhile, the Punjab government has constituted a three-member committee to probe the assassination attempt on Imran Khan.
According to a notification issued by the Punjab prosecutor general, the committee “will give line of inquiry to the investigating officer/JIT (joint investigation team), provide guidance for collection of proper admissible evidence and conduct the remand of the accused before the anti-terrorism court (ATC)”.
On Wednesday, the Punjab police recommended the names of three officers to the provincial government to form a joint investigation team and begin a formal investigation into the incident.
Talking about the JIT, PTI leader Asad Umer claimed that the party has proof of the involvement of the three persons named by Khan in the failed assassination attempt on Imran Khan.
“We will put it in front of the Supreme Court whenever a commission is formed to probe the matter,” he said.
