Clashes, blockades and tear gas bar PTI supporters from travelling to Islamabad

Published October 31, 2016
Supporters of PTI clash with police during a march to the capital, in Swabi. ─AFP
Supporters of PTI clash with police during a march to the capital, in Swabi. ─AFP
A supporter of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf runs to escape tear gas fired by police in Hazro.  —AP
A supporter of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf runs to escape tear gas fired by police in Hazro. —AP
Activists of PTI march towards the capital, in Swabi.─AFP
Activists of PTI march towards the capital, in Swabi.─AFP
Supporters of PTI gather to leave for the capital during a clash with government forces in Hazro. ─AP
Supporters of PTI gather to leave for the capital during a clash with government forces in Hazro. ─AP
A man with his children walk past containers, which will be used to block roads during a planned protest called byPTI. ─Reuters
A man with his children walk past containers, which will be used to block roads during a planned protest called byPTI. ─Reuters
A leader of PTI chants slogans as he is detained by police from outskirts of Islamabad. —AP
A leader of PTI chants slogans as he is detained by police from outskirts of Islamabad. —AP
Supporters of PTI run from tear gas shells during clashes with police in Swabi.─AFP
Supporters of PTI run from tear gas shells during clashes with police in Swabi.─AFP
Supporters of PTI march towards the capital, in Swabi. ─AFP
Supporters of PTI march towards the capital, in Swabi. ─AFP
Activists of PTI run from tear gas shells during clashes with police in Swabi.─AFP
Activists of PTI run from tear gas shells during clashes with police in Swabi.─AFP
A Frontier Constabulary personnel walks past a container, which will be used to block roads during a planned protest called by PTI. ─Reuters
A Frontier Constabulary personnel walks past a container, which will be used to block roads during a planned protest called by PTI. ─Reuters
Police use tear gas and batons to disperse supporters of PTI, en route to Islamabad at Hazro.─AFP
Police use tear gas and batons to disperse supporters of PTI, en route to Islamabad at Hazro.─AFP

Police and Frontier Constabulary personnel used tear gas shells to disperse thousands of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) protesters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Swabi en route to Islamabad on Monday to join the party's planned Nov 2 'lockdown' of the capital.

Around 5,000 stick-wielding party workers are trying to remove barricades put in place by police using cranes near the Swabi Interchange, while law enforcement personnel are using tear gas shelling and rubber bullets to stop the protesters.

The PTI protesters have vowed to move on undeterred towards the federal capital, they are trying to remove containers using cranes as the night falls.

Some protesters also fainted due to the shelling, while others were injured by rubber bullets. Those affected were taken to hospitals, DawnNews reported.

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