Rawalpindi: Protests, unrest in twin cities enters third day

[Naveed Yaseen]

PPP workers damage Raja Zafar’s vehicle
Muhammad Anis
The protest demonstrations and unrest in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad continued for third day on Friday as activists of Pakistan Muslim League-N came out on roads to give way to their anger and staged sit-in front of various mosques against disqualification of Sharif brothers.

As PML-N workers were lodging their protest in various parts of two cities, the black Land Cruiser of PML-N Chairman Raja Zafarul Haque was attacked by PPP activists when his convoy was passing by memorial of Benazir Bhutto at Liaquat Bagh.

Zafarul Haque while leading a rally was heading towards Raja Bazaar where later, he along with other party leaders and workers staged sit-in in front of Idara-e-Taleemul Quraan after Jumma prayers. Senators-elect Raja Zafarul Haque and Syed Zafar Ali Shah who were inside the vehicle remained unhurt. Party chairman Zafarul Haque was occupying front seat while Zafar Ali Shah was sitting behind him. “We do not want to exploit the incident in the present circumstances,” a senior leader of PML-N when contacted said.

The driver sped away vehicle but two window glasses of front and rear seats were broken. The PML-N leaders have also planned to lay floral wreath at memorial of Benazir Bhutto but changed their mind on seeing gathering of PPP workers at the site. The PPP workers also reached memorial of their leader to register their protest against ransacking of memorial and portraits of Benazir Bhutto by PML-N activists on Wednesday. Zamrud Khan, Qazi Sultan Mahmood and others led them.

The incident further increased tension between PPP and PML-N workers and Zafarul Haque-led rally while coming back to Committee Chowk changed the route and avoided confronting their political rivals.

The Islamabad Expressway remained the battlefield between protestors and personnel of Islamabad Police suspending the traffic for the whole day. The activists of aggrieved party of adjoining areas took their positions on the expressway and blocked road by burning tyres. As police tried to disperse protestors, they retaliated by pelting stones and hide and seek continued till late evening.

The Islamabad Police also arrested three PML-N workers for attacking a truck included in convoy of police on the expressway. A number of PML-N workers also staged a sit-in in front of the Parliament House. However, no untoward incident occurred.

Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi Police have booked two PML-N parliamentarians, local leaders and 300 workers of the party on charges of creating unrest in the city and damaging public property. The cases against them have been registered at Gangmandi, Waris Khan and City Police stations. Prominent among those who have been booked also include Hanif Abbasi, Haji Parvaiz Khan, Sardar Naseem and others.

After staging sit-in in Raja Bazaar, the protestors while raising slogans marched towards Committee Chowk where they were addressed by Raja Zafarul Haque, Zafar Ali Shah and ex-AJK Prime Minister Barrister Sultan Mahmood.

Addressing the rally, PML-N leaders strongly condemned sidelining party’s top leadership and imposition of governor rule in Punjab province. They said that President Zardari who is also PPP co-chairman instead of fulfilling his promises to restore sacked judges, resorted to undemocratic act of disqualification of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif and then imposed governor rule in the province. “We will continue our struggle for restoration of judiciary,” they pledged.

The PML-N leaders called upon the workers and masses to actively participate in next month’s long march and dharna in Islamabad. “The people of Rawalpindi will play an important role in the long march and dharna,” they said. The calm and peace in Rawalpindi was broken after address of party leaders as activists burnt tyres at different places on Murree Road causing suspension of traffic. However, the police acted as silent spectator.

From Committee Chowk, the protestors marched towards Islamabad and reached Islamabad Highway via Chandani Chowk, Shamsabad and Faizabad.

The activists carrying sticks and party flags damaged public property, breaking traffic signals at I-8 intersection and park lights, which were installed at a park on the roadside. The activists also torched police check post, shattering signboards of Lok Virsa and traffic signs.

The eyewitnesses said the police reached the site of disturbance after PML-N workers, some of them riding on motorcycles had caused the major damage.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=164980