PTI Faisalabad lockdown: PTI, PML-N workers at daggers drawn
Imran Khan would lead the procession to Ghanta Ghar Chowk on his arrival in Faisalabad at 2 pm.
FAISALABAD (Dunya News) – Workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) took it to roads and blocked Milat Chowk and Naolati Chowk for traffic by burning tyres on Monday in the wake of lock down call by PTI.
Clash erupted between workers of PTI and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) who got into verbal confrontation when PML-N activists started throwing tomatoes and eggs at PTI workers in a bid to harass and disperse them. Police used water cannons in order to scatter away the protesters.
PTI workers from various areas scattered in the city in the form of groups. Ghanta Ghar is a junction of eight markets and shutting it down would paralyze business of the city. Protest at Khurrianwala Bypass and Abdullah Pur Intersection would disconnect Faisalabad from routes leading to railway station and bus stands including the routes to Lahore, Jaranwala and other cities in the east.
Blocking Kamal Pur Intersection would block roads to Jhang and southern Punjab whereas blockading road to Jhang would obstruct traffic heading towards the airport.
Government on the other hand intimated a counter strategy. Markets at Ghanta Ghar remained open with security on high alert throughout the city. Security plan has been chalked out. People shutting down shops and blocking roads would be tackled strictly. Police, elite force contingent and water cannons have been summoned to disperse protesters while mobile jammer vehicles and ambulances would accompany the forces. DCO Faisalabad Noorul Amin Mengal is also present at Milat Chowk.
Emergency has been declared at District Headquarters Hospital, General Hospital, Faisalabad, Allied Hospital and other hospitals of Samanabad and Ghulam Muhammadabad while holidays of the doctors, nurses and paramedical staff have also been suspended.
The PTI chief Imran Khan will reach Faisalabad airport at 2 pm from where he will lead a large procession to the Chowk Ghanta Ghar by 3 pm. PTI intends to stage protest at D-Ground, People’s Colony commercial area and Satiana Road that would bar routes to major markets of the city.
Government and transport owners, in a joint session, declared that vehicles would continue to move as per routine.
Imran Khan has repeatedly emphasized that they intend to stage a peaceful demonstration and should be allowed to do so as per their democratic and constitutional right.
