At least eight people have been killed and over 100 injured in the clashes between police and protesters in Pakistan as the protesters marched towards the prime minister's house.
The Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) chief Tahir ul Qadri, the co-organiser of the protest, said his party's seven workers were killed and 75 others injured, while Imaran Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI), said one of his workers was killed in clashes, Xinhua reported.
However, the spokesperson of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), a government-run hospital, said no dead person was brought to the hospital.
The Federal Defence Minister Khawja Asif, however, denied any causality in the clashes, saying that it is exaggeration by the protesters.
Several media persons and policemen were reportedly among the injured.
Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan said police used force after a group of demonstrators tried to enter an important governmental building to occupy it.
The government has ordered police to arrest both leaders as soon as possible to control the situation, the report said.
The clashes erupted after leaders of the two opposition parties the PAT and the PTI asked their workers about 10 p.m. to move from the parliament towards the PM house after two-week peaceful sit-ins in Islamabad.
Police used baton charge, fired tear gas shells and rubber bullets to disperse the thousands of the protesters, who were demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
PTI and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) have announced to observe a day of mourning Sunday following the clashes between protesters and law enforcers in Islamabad.
Following the clashes in Islamabad, party workers of the PTI and PAT started protests in other major cities, including Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad and Karachi.
Thousands of supporters of the two parties reached Islamabad Aug 15 and entered a high security area "Red Zone" Aug 19 and started sit-ins in front of the parliament.
Both parties held talks with the authorities on their demands but that finally ended in failure.
Khan, whose party has 34 seats in the lower house, alleged that the prime minister's party managed to win the 2013 general election through rigging.
He has been demanding for a free and fair probe into the rigging by a panel of the apex court, and the PM should step down till the time inquiry report comes.
According to an earlier report, at least one women protester was killed and over 50 were injured.
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Former President Asif Ali Zardari:
Both parties should settle political crisis through dialogue.
Dialogue, dialogue and only dialogue' is the best way to settle the political standoff.
Protesters at PM Secretariat
The protesters have now reached the main gate of the PM Secretariat.
Legal expert Asma Jehangir: Protest leaders should have realised what would happen. If protesters try to come to my house, will I let them enter? The police used tear gas and rubber bullets. The government should have communicated.... their communication has been very weak.
IG Islamabad says all action 'legal'
Islamabad IG Khalid Khattak praised police forces in the handling of this situation.
He said all action was taken in accordance with the law.
"If you [protesters] come beyond a certain point, we have a plan in place".
25 policemen injured
25 policemen are among those injured in Islamabad.
"Pakistanis, till we don’t get the resignations of these two brothers – we will not leave!" Imran Khan says.
Turn back over our dead bodies'
Imran Khan's container was headed towards Parliament House but when shelling intensified, the PTI decided to return to D-chowk and hold a sit-in outside Parliament House until Nawaz resigns.
PTI's turn upset PAT supporters. They said PTI could only turn back over the bodies of Qadri's supporters.
230 injured
Wasim Khawaja, spokesman for the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences hospital in Islamabad, told that 164 injured people have been taken to his hospital, while the Polyclinic hospital said it had received 70 wounded so far.
30,000-40,000 personnel from police, FC and other law enforcement agencies are deployed in the area at large.
PTI move to Parliament
- Protesters have broken the gates of Parliament House using a truck and have entered the compound.
Raiwind sealed
All routes leading to Raiwind have been sealed with shipping containers, DawnNews reported.
Nawaz Sharif is currently at his residence in Raiwind.
Security in Lahore is on high alert after the administration's directives. A large contingent of police has also been deployed on the way leading from main Lahore city towards Raiwind.
Protesters in Lahore and Karachi are burning tyres with Karachi's main artery Shahrah-i-Faisal blocked by angry demonstrators.
Trained terrorists, defence minister claims
“There are 1,600 to 2,000 trained terrorists. They have 200 women who are trained in the use of firearms and they have come with the intention of occupying state buildings,” defence minister Khawaja Asif told.
“These are buildings that are symbols of the state,” he said. “Their attempts are being resisted. And we will resist these with full force."
Pervez Musharraf on Facebook and Twitter:
I am appalled to witness the attack by the Government on unarmed and peaceful protestors that include women and children and I vehemently condemn it. Resorting to force will not suppress the movement for change the people of Pakistan have embarked upon. It is time the Nawaz government should accept that it has lost the moral authority to govern.
