FAISALABAD: Violent clashes erupted between supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Faisalabad on Monday, ahead of Imran Khan's call for a 'shutdown' of the city.
Khan is also scheduled to arrive in Faisalabad today in the afternoon. Khan has promised that the strike in Faisalabad is the first of a series to target major cities in the country after leading a months long demonstration in Islamabad, that shut down the city and sparked clashes.
His party has demanded Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's resignation over their accusation of fraud in the May 2013 election that brought him to power.
He says the party's Plan C is to build pressure on the government because they wanted accountability, adding that all parties unanimously agreed that rigging had taken place during the May 2013 election.
3:15 pm — PTI chief incited his workers to create disorder: Rashid
Speaking at a press conference, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid accuses Imran Khan of inciting violence in Faisalabad.
"An innocent man lost his life in Faisalabad today, we are with the family in their worst hours. The government believes it is its responsibility to arrest the murderer regardless of which political party he belongs to. Police has acquired footage of the killer and three teams of police are making efforts to arrest him. The police is investigating the incident, I have no further details from them at the moment."
In a statement issued earlier, the information minister had also said that nefarious designs of Imran Khan have been exposed now.
In a statement, he says that Imran Khan is staying at his Bani Gala villa (Islamabad) and has allowed workers to create disturbance in Faisalabad.
He says PTI always violates agreement in staging its protest.
The minister says police has been kept unarmed.
2:37 pm — PPP condemns violence in Faisalabad
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) condemns violence in Faisalabad and calls upon the government and the PTI to show restraint, according to party spokesperson Farhatullah Babar.
Babar says the party has also demanded an inquiry into the clashes and punishment under the law.
The PPP spokesperson says the provincial government of Punjab was wrong in allowing PML-N workers to come out into the streets and confront workers of PTI with sticks and batons when passions were running high. He says it invited clashes between the two sides adding that "this provocation could and must have been avoided".
2:29 pm — PTI to observe day of mourning against worker killing
PTI's Punjab president Ejaz Chaudhry says the party holds District Coordination Officer (DCO) Faisalabad Noor Ul Amin Mengal, Rana Sanaullah and his son-in-law accountable for the killing of its worker in today's clashes.
He says PTI will observe a day of mourning in Faisalabad tomorrow, adding that he will speak to PTI Chairman Imran Khan to announce a day of mourning across the country.
2:00 pm — Will register FIR against attackers, says Imran
Lamenting police action against party supporters, PTI Chairman Imran Khan says he was going to travel to Faisalabad to register a First Information Report (FIR) against attackers.
Khan says 'Gullu Butts' in the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) had subjected PTI activists to inexplicable violence.
The PTI Chairman says if the process of recounting had taken place in the first week, following the May 2013 elections, none of this would have happened.
1:55 pm Qureshi lauds decision of Lahore tribunal to open ballot papers in NA-122
Speaking to media representatives in Islamabad's Bani Gala area, PTI vice president Shah Mehmood Qureshi says they were in contact with workers through phone calls.
Lauding the decision of an election tribunal in Lahore to open ballot papers in NA-122 constituency, Qureshi says it was a huge step.
1:50 pm — Election tribunal orders opening of ballot bags in NA-122
An election tribunal on Monday accepted Imran Khan's request for opening the ballot bags in constituency NA-122 to investigate allegations of rigging.
Read more here: Election tribunal orders opening of ballot bags in NA-122
1:40 pm — PML-N, PTI should instruct party workers to remain peaceful, says ANP leader
Awami National Party (ANP) leader Zahid Khan said the state should not harbour hopelessness, adding that when a state becomes hopeless, then it leads to an anarchic state in the country.
He stated that problems should not be resolved by coming out on the roads, adding that the proper channel for resolving problems was the Parliament. He also said that both parties should ask their workers to remain peaceful.
1:34 pm — MQM leader Haider Abbas condemns Faisalabad violence
In a tweet posted on his official Twitter account, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Haider Abbas Rizvi has condemned the violence in Faisalabad, saying that it is deplorable.
1:30 pm — PTI workers reach Rana Sanaullah's area
PTI workers reach the 'dera' of PML-N leader and former Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah, while carrying the body of deceased PTI activist Asghar who was killed in today's clashes in Faisalabad. PTI activists are shouting slogans to mark their protest.
Meanwhile, PML-N workers are also making their way to Sanaullah's area.
1:17 pm — PTI says shooter was PML-N guard
PTI spokesperson Dr Shireen Mazari claims that the man who shot dead PTI worker Asghar is Rana Sanaullah’s son-in-law’s guard.
She says PTI had been holding peaceful rallies since three months, adding that Sanaullah should know how PML-N workers incite violence.
Mazari also recalls that when Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) was holding demonstrations in Peshawar to protest the killing of its party's Sindh Secretary General in Sukkur, the PTI administration in KP had not stopped them and KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak had undertaken a different route in order to travel to Islamabad. She alleged that PML-N don’t have that kind of a democratic mindset and attitude.
Mazari also says that police is not doing anything to cease the clashes in Faisalabad, except for inflicting violence on PTI workers.
1:13 pm — Footage of man fired in protests
1:11 pm — PTI workers arrive at Ghanta Ghar
A large number of PTI workers carrying sticks and shoes arrive at Ghanta Ghar Chowk.
1:00 pm — Sanaullah denies PML-N, police links to PTI worker's death
Speaking to DawnNews, PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah denies PML-N or police association to the death of the PTI worker in Faisalabad. He added that PTI activists, who earlier threatened to stage a demonstration in Sanaullah's area, could take his body "wherever they wanted".
He says police is trying to normalise the situation, adding that he has also appealed to PML-N workers to remain peaceful.
The former law minister says they are trying to remove PML-N workers from the site before the arrival of PTI Chairman Imran Khan in Faisalabad.
12:53 pm — Protesters to reach Rana Sanaullah's home
PTI workers have threatened to take the body of deceased PTI activist Asghar to the 'dera' of PML-N leader and former law minister Rana Sanaullah as a sign of protest, DawnNews reported.
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PTI activists carrying body of deceased PTI worker. - Screengrab from DawnNews
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12:40 pm — Imran should call off strike: Punjab govt
Speaking to DawnNews, Punjab government spokesman Zaeem Qadri says that Imran Khan should call off the strike in Faisalabad and do a press conference in Islamabad. He said that Khan should not call for further strikes.
According to Zaeem Khan, the clashes occurred when the route for PML-N workers was blocked in Faisalabad.
12:38 pm — Death of PTI activist confirmed
A PTI activist, identified as Asghar, was killed in clashes with police and PML-N supporters in Faisalabad.
Speaking to Dawn, a representative for the District Headquarters Hospital confirmed that a PTI worker had been killed. The deceased was reported to be 22 years of age.
He also said that four others had been injured.
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- Screengrab from DawnNews
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12:32 pm — Injured PTI worker shifted to safe location
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This screengrab from DawnNews shows an injured PTI worker being shifted to a safe location by party workers after being injured in clashes.
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12:27 pm — Shah Mehmood Qureshi calls upon PTI supporters to remain resolute
In a tweet posted on his official Twitter account, PTI vice president Shah Mehmood Qureshi has called upon party workers to remain resolute.
12:18 pm — PM calls cabinet meeting on Faisalabad situation
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif calls a meeting of the federal cabinet to review the current situation in Faisalabad, DawnNews reported.
12:00 pm — CM Shahbaz takes notice
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif takes notice of firing on Faisalabad's Novelty Pull and has summoned a report of the incident. He also orders action against those responsible for the firing.
11:55 am — Reports of firing
Incidents of gunfiring were also reported at the scene. Four wounded men, including a PTI worker and a policeman, have been shifted to a nearby hospital.
11:45 am — Traffic blocked
A clash has taken place on Novelty Chowk as a result of which traffic on Millat Road was blocked. Police is now using watercannons to dispel protesters. Stick-wielding activists of the two parties also pelted each other with eggs. PTI workers are blocking roads in the city to protest against the government, said a police officer.
Police use water cannons on PTI workers
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- Screengrab from DawnNews
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Police officer Ahmad Bilal says PTI workers have burned tires in Faisalabad. Bilal says there were some clashes between PTI Chairman Imran Khan's supporters and security forces.
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- Screengrab from DawnNews.
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