Lahore: Protests broke out in major cities at call of PTI Chairman Imran Khan as police and party workers continued to clash outside his Zaman Park residence here.

Intermittent tear gas shelling is ongoing at Zaman Park as police which was previously camped out at security barrier outside neighbourhood has been forced to retreat towards Mall Road. PTI workers, meanwhile, have laid siege to path leading to Imran’s residence as well as Canal Road. With police seeking Imran’s arrest, Protests broken out in Islamabad, Peshawar, Karachi and Rawalpindi after PTI Chief called on his supporters to “come out” following police’s use of tear gas and water cannons on supporters outside Zaman Park. In Karachi, PTI workers protested at 4K Chowrangi, 5 Star Chowrangi, Banaras Chowk, Al-Asif Square, Shaheen Chowk, Mirza Adam Khan Chowk, and Murghi Khana.

Videos shared by PTI’s Karachi chapter also showed workers gathered at Qayyumabad Chowrangi, II Chundrigar, Hassan Square and Sohrab Goth. PTI claimed that Sindh police fired tear gas shells at its workers and supporters at Hassan Square to disperse crowd.

In Peshawar, large number of PTI supporters demonstrated outside press club. Workers also blocked Sher Shah Suri Road and marched towards Governor House.

Islamabad police said PTI protesters had blocked Tarnol Road but timely action had been taken to reopen it for traffic.  In Rawalpindi, protesters marched to Committee Chowk and also gathered at Liaqat Bagh but were later dispersed by police officials.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 15 2023

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.