Gandapur returns to Peshawar as PTI's Rawalpindi protest 'called off' after clashes with police

• PTI workers clash with police near Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh.
• Amid clashes, Geo News correspondent beaten up by police.
• Rawalpindi protests called off on Imran’s instructions: Swati.

RAWALPINDI: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, known for his fiery speeches, returned to Peshawar after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest in Rawalpindi was "called off" amid violent clashes between protesters and riot police near Liaquat Bagh. 

The Gandapur-led convoy remained stuck at the interchange for several hours due to closure of roads as the authorities had placed containers at Burhan Interchange in an attempt to thwart PTI’s protest.

Addressing the participants, the KP chief executive directed them to return back to Peshawar and castigated the government for not granting PTI its “constitutional right”.

He regretted that the police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the protesters, vowing to come back with “all resources”.

“They [police] have set a precedent of firing bullets […] We also have guns,” he warned.

The firebrand politician noted that the allocated deadline for holding protest in Rawalpindi has ended.

PTI workers demand Gandapur's resignation 

Gandapur’s announcement drew strong opposition from the protesters as they refused to return back and demanded his resignation.

The PTI workers surrounded the KP chief minister’s vehicle and staged a protest against the party leadership at Burhan Interchange.

However, the protest was called off after PTI leader Azam Swati’s intervention.

Speaking to the protesters, the former federal minister said they had cancelled the Rawalpindi protest on Imran Khan’s instructions. “We have to follow his [PTI founder] directives.”

Earlier, clashes broke out between the PTI workers and police near Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh ahead of its planned protest as the garrison city was put on high alert.

The Punjab government imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in Rawalpindi Division for two days, banning all political gatherings, sit-ins, rallies, protests, and similar activities.

PTI initially planned to hold a public rally at Liaquat Bagh but converted the event into a demonstration on the directives of PTI founder Imran Khan.

It also withdrew its application seeking a no-objection certificate (NOC) to hold a rally from the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi bench.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Salman Akram Raja were also detained on their way to Rawalpindi near Sector H-13 only to be released shortly.

In a statement issued earlier, the PTI said Gohar and Salman were travelling to Rawalpindi when the police stopped their vehicle near Sector H-13 and took them into custody. “They [law enforcers] took both the leaders away in a van.”

Following his release, the PTI chief — while speaking to Geo News — said that the police asked them to go back “instead of heading to Rawalpindi”.

On the other hand, Rawalpindi police spokesperson said that the city was on “high alert” and police personnel were deployed at the city’s entry and exit points.

The spokesperson reiterated that no illegal public gatherings would be permitted anywhere in the city and warned that strict action would be taken against any violations.

The Imran Khan-founded party, as part of its months-long efforts to secure permission to hold public gatherings, has managed to hold two rallies in Islamabad and Lahore under strict conditions in recent weeks.

‘Rawalpindi becomes battleground’

Several areas of Rawalpindi became battlegrounds with the police firing tear gas at the PTI workers and supporters, including women, who were trying to stage the demonstration.

Geo News reported that the party supporters attempted to head towards Liaquat Bagh from Committee Chowk and Moti Mahal by removing the containers placed by the authorities.

Police resorted to teargas shelling to disperse the crowd, leading to violent clashes along Murree Road where Imran’s sisters — Aleema Khan, Naureen Khan, and Uzma Khan — were also present.

PTI supporters retaliated by hurling stones and glass bottles at the police.

Along with tear gas shelling, the law enforcers also fired rubber bullets to prevent the protesters from reaching the venue.

Amid the riots, Geo News correspondent, Haider Sherazi, covering the protest, was beaten up by the local police and taken into custody.

The journalist introduced himself to the charged cops many times, however, they kept beating him up along with other journalists and snatched their mobile phones.

Sherazi received wounds on his face and head due to the police torture. 

On the other hand, Gandapur, who was leading a convoy to Rawalpindi to attend the protest, also faced police shelling at the Burhan Interchange.

Security beefed up

In light of the prospective protests, City Police Officer (CPO) Khalid Hamdani cancelled the leave of the officers ordering all personnel to be on duty.

On the recommendations of the district administration, a request was made to the Federal Ministry of Interior for the deployment of Rangers in Rawalpindi and Attock. Four companies of Rangers were expected to be stationed in Rawalpindi and Attock, The News reported.

Authorities sealed Liaquat Bagh from all sides as well as the road leading to the venue. Faizabad, Shamsabad, Chandni Chowk, Rehmanabad, and Committee Chowk were also blocked.

With the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus service also suspended, the road leading from Faizabad Expressway to Pirwadhai was closed for traffic along with all the ones leading to Rawalpindi from the Faizabad bridge.

Also, the routes connecting Faizabad to Murree Road were blocked with containers.

However, Islamabad Expressway and Faizabad flyover were open for traffic along with IJP Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed Road.