Peshawar attack: Imran Khan postpones PTI's Dec 18 protests

Published December 16, 2014
PTI Chairman Imran Khan. - INP/File
PTI Chairman Imran Khan. - INP/File
Army troops arrive to conduct an operation at a school under attack by terrorists in Peshawar. — AP
Army troops arrive to conduct an operation at a school under attack by terrorists in Peshawar. — AP
An ambulance drives away from the Army Public School that is under attack by terrorists in Peshawar. — Reuters
An ambulance drives away from the Army Public School that is under attack by terrorists in Peshawar. — Reuters

ISLAMABAD: Following a deadly terrorist attack on a school in Peshawar on Tuesday that claimed over 120 lives, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has postponed his party's countrywide protests scheduled for Dec 18.

Earlier today, PTI Punjab President Ejaz Chaudhry had sent a recommendation to Imran requesting to postpone the party's countrywide protests.

Over 120, including 84 children, were killed when terrorists took hundreds of students and teachers hostage in the Army Public School. The attack was claimed by Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

PTI's protest call was aimed at paralysing the entire country to put pressure on the ruling Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) government to carry out investigations for alleged rigging in last year's general elections.

On Nov 30, Imran had announced his party's Plan 'C', starting from paralysing Faisalabad, Karachi and Lahore in its initial phase and leading up to shutting down the entire country in its final round.

PTI's Faisalabad shutdown call had seen violent clashes taking place with PML-N supporters, resulting in the death of one PTI activist Haq Nawaz. The violence had complicated an already tense political situation with both sides blaming one another for the impasse.

Imran has reiterated his demand of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's resignation, demanding a fresh probe into alleged rigging in the elections. The PTI chief was confident that his new push for street agitation would succeed.

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