• Gandapur-led caravan breaks through barricades, reaches China Chowk on Jinnah Avenue; CM’s non-bailable warrants issued in separate case
• Naqvi asks CM not to force govt to resort to ‘extreme measures’
• PTI supporters use rocks, slingshots to target police; dozens of cops injured
• Over 600 rounded up after clashes in several areas of capital, police say

ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of protesters were rounded up on Saturday as PTI marchers led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur entered Islamabad, breaking through multiple police barricades amid intense teargas shelling and clashes with law enforcers.

The government, however, warned the KP chief minister and the former ruling party of consequences for ‘storming’ the federal capital, with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi blaming Mr Gandapur for the violence that wounded as many as 80 police officials.

Meanwhile, a local court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the KP CM in a case related to the recovery of liquor and weapons after his ‘multiple absences’ and ordered the police to produce the chief minister on Oct 12. In response, a contingent of police and Rangers reached the KP House and cordoned it off. According to the unverified videos viral on social media, the police entered the KP House and took over its main gate.

In light of the PTI protest call, the government had already called in the military, actively patrolling the city to deal with any kind of emergency.

‘Tear gas and slingshots’

Throughout the day, the police used thousands of tear gas shells and rubber bullets to disperse the PTI protesters, who retaliated using slingshots to target law enforcers with marbles as well as hurled rocks to overcome the large police contingent.

The day started with confrontations in Tarnol and Chungi No. 26 — the outskirts of the capital — and by the evening, thousands of marchers led by CM Gandapur managed to reach Jinnah Avenue, which leads to D-Chowk. It may be noted the protesters set a crane and two motorcycles on fire at Chungti No. 26 on Friday night.

On Jinnah Avenue, pitched battles were witnessed at two main intersections — China Chowk and Express Chowk — where scores of police officials armed with tear gas and rubber bullets had been deployed to stop the protesters from moving towards the Red Zone.

The skirmishes between the police and the protesters were so intense that the contingents deployed to intercept the PTI activists asked their superiors to replenish their tear gas stocks twice. It may be noted each contingent had been given at least 2,000 cartridges.

“Each time a stock of 2,000 shells was given to them,” a police officer said. On the other hand, the protesters uprooted a tree planted along the avenue and set it on alight, ostensibly to offset the impact of the gas used by the police to disperse them.

The Gandapur-led convoy comprised almost 6,000 to 8,000 participants entered Islamabad via Taxila after clashes with the police and managed to reach China Chowk on Jinnah Avenue.

From China Chowk, the CM after a brief appearance went to the KP House, whereas the protesters moved towards Express Chowk. In order to stop them, the police again used tear gas and rubber bullets.

Rain turns tables

In the evening, heavy rain started to lash the capital, turning the tables on the police as it blunted the impact of tear gas. The protesters, while taking advantage of the downpour which sent the police and paramilitary personnel running for cover, took control of China Chowk and Express Chowk before they were repulsed.

After some time, the police reclaimed the intersections and dispersed the protesters, also clearing the area. According to police officials, over 600 protesters were taken into custody and cases were being registered against them at different police stations. Among these protesters were 100 Afghan nationals, claimed the police officer. He, however, said the police had run out of space to detain protesters.

A police officer told Dawn that separate cases have been registered against PTI protestors and leaders at Secretariat, Kohsar, Khanna, and Sangjani police stations under the Anti-Terrorism Act and Pakistan Penal Code.

In a separate incident, Senator Sherry Rehman, a PPP stalwart, came under attack when her motorcade was intercepted by protesters in Blue Area who pelted stones at the convoy. The protesters damaged the lead vehicle. The senator, however, managed to dodge the protesters and reach home safely.

‘Extreme measures’

On the other hand, the interior minister warned CM Gandapur, saying he should not force the government to resort to ‘extreme measures’ to contain the protesters announced by the former ruling party. Mr Naqvi said the government would not let anyone sabotage the SCO summit. The minister said protests and rallies were the right of the political parties, but permission must be sought for these, adding CM Gandapur and PTI workers had “already crossed the line, and if they crossed any further, then extreme measures would become inevitable”.

The interior minister said the local administration had barricaded the Pathargarh area, which the CM KP crossed with his convoy after clashes. He claimed that live bullets were fired on police there and tear gas had also been used against the law enforcers. He claimed about 80 to 85 police officials were injured.

According to the minister, CM Gandapur was leading a group that planned to storm Islam­abad. “And if they did so then no room would be left for negotiations, he warned, saying the CM “continues to test the patience of the federal government”. “I still urge the CM and PTI leadership to avoid clashes and not force law enforcement agencies into taking extreme measures.”

He added that dialogue could only take place if CM Gandapur showed “seriousness”. When asked about the possibility of imposing an emergency in KP and arresting the chief minister under Article 6, Mohsin Naqvi responded that the president and prime minister were in close contact, and all political leadership had been consulted.

Pindi clashes

Four police officials were injured and 17 protesters were arrested in Rawalpindi after clashes between the police and demonstrators on Friday night. A police mobile was also torched.

In response to the protests, more than 200 protesters were booked on various charges, including Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act. On Saturday, the police were able to get a seven-day physical remand of 17 protesters. A van and several shops in the area were also damaged by the violent protesters who remained engaged with the police after midnight.

Malik Asad in Islamabad and Mohammad Asghar in Rawalpindi also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2024