The government has already enforced a two-month ban on street rallies in the capital

Pakistani police launched a nation-wide crackdown overnight, arresting at least 1,500 supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Imran Khan ahead of an Opposition rally planned later this week in Islamabad, officials said on Monday.

The arrests followed intermittent clashes since the weekend between Mr. Khan’s supporters and riot police in the capital that saw police using tear gas and batons to fight stone-throwing activists. Violence erupted again on Sunday near Mr. Khan’s suburban home and at several places on Islamabad’s outskirts.

On Monday, a Pakistani court barred Khan’s followers from demonstrating on Islamabad streets, restricting the rally to within the limits of a city park, said government prosecutor Saddique Awan. As of last week, the government has already enforced a two-month ban on street rallies in the capital.

Mr. Khan’s attorney Babar Awan said the party would appeal. The party has called for massive street demonstrations on Wednesday, threatening to lock down Islamabad in a bid to force Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resign.

Mr. Sharif has been under pressure after his family members were named as holders of offshore bank accounts in leaked financial documents from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca. </s> Cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party today filed a petition with the Election Commission seeking restrictions on ousted premier Nawaz Sharif’s political activities in the wake of his disqualification by the Supreme Court. The petition was filed by advocate Babar Awan on behalf of Tehreek-i-Insaf leader Dr Yasmeen Rashid, hours before Sharif was to lead a rally to his hometown Lahore from Islamabad via the historic Grand Trunk (GT) Road.

The petition has been filed under Section 5 of the Political Parties Order 2002 and requests Sharif’s disqualification from holding any post in any political party, the Dawn reported. The opposition has decried Sharif’s continued role in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) after his disqualification by the apex court in the Panama Papers case.

The petition further states that the party carrying Sharif’s name should be banned, asking that nominations made by him for the post of the prime minister and for the cabinet should be declared illegal. On July 28, a five-member Supreme Court bench disqualified 67-year-old Sharif for dishonesty and ruled that corruption cases be filed against him and his children, forcing the embattled leader out of office. </s> Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Tuesday called off anti-government protests he had planned for Wednesday and instead announced celebrations after the Supreme Court ordered a probe against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family over the Panama Papers scandal.

Mr. Khan had threatened to ‘lock down’ the capital on Wednesday by mobilising a million supporters to force Mr. Sharif to step down over corruption allegations against him and his family.

Mr. Khan said outside his Bani Gala residence here that it was time to “celebrate victory and offer thanks”.

“Go home and rest,” he told about 300 supporters who had been camping outside his residence.

‘Thanksgiving parade’

 

 He asked them to return to Islamabad tomorrow to celebrate thanksgiving at the Parade Ground in the capital.

“I am elated that the investigation... will begin day after tomorrow,” he said.

The Supreme Court has set November 3 as date of hearing in the case.

Three of Mr. Sharif’s four children are said to be owners of offshore companies, according to the Panama Papers.

Mr. Sharif and his family have dismissed the allegations of money laundering and denied any wrongdoing but the Opposition is demanding an independent probe.

The announcement to cancel the protests came just hours after party’s spokesman Naeem ul-Haq had said that the protest would go ahead as planned.

After Mr. Khan’s announcement that he would not enforce the ‘lockdown’ it is expected that the government would lift the roadblocks and clear entry points leading to Islamabad. </s> Pakistani police launched a nation-wide crackdown overnight, arresting at least 1,500 supporters of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan ahead of an opposition rally planned later this week in Islamabad, officials said Monday.

The arrests followed intermittent clashes over the weekend between Khan’s supporters and riot police in the capital that saw police using tear gas and batons to fight stone-throwing activists.

The violence erupted again Monday when police fired tear gas on nearly 3,000 supporters on a main highway some 80 kilometre northwest of Islamabad. Khan’s party rules in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and its chief minister, Pervez Khattak, and some cabinet ministers led the protesters.

Police official Hussain Awan said the protesters pelted police with stones and bricks and chanted slogans against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Pakistani Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had warned Sunday that the government would extend protocol to Khattak if he arrived in the capital formally but that he would be dealt with strictly if he led the protesters.

On Monday, a Pakistani court barred Khan’s followers from demonstrating on Islamabad streets, restricting the rally to within the limits of a city park, said government prosecutor Saddique Awan. As of last week, the government has already enforced a two-month ban on street rallies in the capital.

Khan’s attorney Babar Awan said the party would appeal. The party has called for massive street demonstrations for Wednesday, threatening to lock down Islamabad in a bid to force Sharif to resign.

Sharif has been under pressure after his family members were named as holders of offshore bank accounts in leaked financial documents from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca.

Police have conducted raids based on tips and information about planned violence, said government spokesman Zaeem Qadri. Those who pledge not to take part in violent actions are released, while those considered a threat remain in custody pending charges, he said.

Two security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media, said the number of those arrested overnight ranges between 1,500 and 1,800. Punjab provincial law minister Rana Sanaullah said 838 supporters were arrested.

Police have placed shipping containers on key highways leading to Islamabad to stop Khan’s party’s convoys from across Pakistan from reaching the capital.

The interior minister said Khan’s followers had violent plans, which included the storming of government offices.

Khan’s close aide Shah Mahmood Qureshi alleged that the police were manhandling and roughing up the family members of the workers. “The police are also trespassing on the houses of our leaders and activists,” he said. He said two senior leaders of the party were forcibly bundled in a police van. Both were later released on orders from the interior minister. </s> Pakistani police launched a nation-wide crackdown overnight, arresting at least 1,500 supporters of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan ahead of an opposition rally planned later this week in Islamabad, officials said Monday.

The arrests followed intermittent clashes over the weekend between Khan's supporters and riot police in the capital that saw police using tear gas and batons to fight stone-throwing protesters.

The violence erupted again Monday when police fired tear gas at nearly 3,000 supporters on a main highway some 80 kilometres (50 miles) northwest of Islamabad. Khan's party rules in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and its chief minister, Pervez Khattak, and some cabinet ministers led the protesters.

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Police official Hussain Awan said the protesters pelted police with stones and bricks, burned several vehicles and chanted slogans against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Pakistani Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had warned Sunday that the government would extend protocol to Khattak if he arrived in the capital formally but that he would be dealt with strictly if he led the protesters.

Amnesty International expressed concern over the situation demanding that Pakistani authorities release opposition activists and allow demonstrators to exercise their right to peaceful assembly.

"Pakistan's authorities must immediately and unconditionally release hundreds of opposition activists, lift restrictions on their movement," Amnesty said in a statement. "If sporadic incidents of violence occur, the authorities should identify the responsible people. Using the violent acts of a few as a pretext to restrict or impede the rights of a majority is in clear violation of Pakistan's obligations under international law."

On Monday, a Pakistani court barred Khan's followers from demonstrating on Islamabad streets, restricting the rally to within the limits of a city park, said government prosecutor Saddique Awan. Last week, the government imposed a two-month ban on street rallies in the capital.

Khan's attorney Babar Awan said the party would appeal. The party has called for massive street demonstrations for Wednesday, threatening to lock down Islamabad in a bid to force Sharif to resign.

Sharif has been under pressure after his family members were named as holders of offshore bank accounts in leaked financial documents from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca.

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Police have conducted raids based on tips and information about planned violence, said government spokesman Zaeem Qadri. Those who pledge not to take part in violent actions are released, while those considered a threat remain in custody pending charges, he said.

Two security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media, said the number of those arrested overnight ranges between 1,500 and 1,800. Punjab provincial law minister Rana Sanaullah said 838 Khan supporters were arrested.

Police have already placed shipping containers on key highways leading to Islamabad to stop convoys of Khan supporters from reaching the capital.

The interior minister said Khan's followers had violent plans, which included the storming of government offices. </s> Pakistan's largest opposition party said on Tuesday that two of its supporters have died from police use of tear gas to prevent hundreds of supporters from entering the capital, Islamabad, for a planned protest demanding the prime minister step down.

"Two of our workers have been killed due to excessive use of expired tear-gas shells," said Shah Mehmood Qureshi, a senior leader of opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said on local Geo TV.

Local authorities could not immediately be reached to confirm any deaths.

Hundreds of supporters of the cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan clashed with police overnight trying to enter the capital for a planned citywide shutdown on Wednesday. </s> Pakistan opposition leader Imran Khan backed down from his threat to shut down the capital on Wednesday, vowing instead to hold a celebratory rally about a Supreme Court decision to pursue a case linked to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

"On the Supreme Court's advice, we have decided that tomorrow we will thank God and celebrate a Day of Thanks at (Islamabad's) parade ground," Khan told media on Tuesday, speaking outside his home in Islamabad.

The celebratory rally is a step back from his threat to paralyze the city and the government, and is likely to ease tension that has boiled over into violence in the days ahead of the planned protest in the capital. </s> Pakistan former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was sentenced to 10 years in jail in Avenfield corruption case by an anti-corruption court on Friday while his daughter Maryam Sharif was sentenced to 7 years in the Avenfield corruption case. Nawaz Sharif’s son-in-law Safdar was given a year sentence. The anti-corruption court has also imposed a fine of 8 million pounds on Nawaz Sharif while Maryam Sharif received a fine of two million pounds. Now, Maryam Sharif who is a Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leader can’t contest elections.

Reacting to the court’s judgement, Punjab province Chief Minister and current president of PML(N) Shahbaz Sharif said that they will take all legal and constitutional routes to fight for justice. Nawaz Sharif has always fought bravely, he added.

Experts believe that it is a very significant political development as general elections in Pakistan will be held this month. It is a major setback for Nawaz Sharif’s party which is contesting the election on all parliamentary seats.

Further speaking on the matter, brother of convict Nawaz Sharif said that all PML(N) candidates are going to contest in upcoming elections and during their campaign, they will make people aware about the injustice that was done to us and our disappointment in the decision. </s> The ruling was applauded by PTI leader Imran Khan, who will instead hold a rally to thank the SC for its decision.

Pakistan's Supreme Court on Tuesday began hearing a case into the Panama papers leaks and offered to form a commission to investigate revelations that Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's children had offshore accounts.

Following this, Pakistan's Opposition called off a planned "lockdown" of the capital.

Mr. Sharif has been under growing pressure from Opposition parties, mainly Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), which had vowed that one million supporters would shut down Islamabad on Wednesday as part of long-running efforts to force the government out of power.

Police have repeatedly clashed with protesters in recent days, detaining more than 1,000 PTI supporters from across the country since last week after imposing a ban on all public gatherings in Islamabad, which was later partly lifted by a court order.

"We are determined to resolve this issue. We will solve it and we will solve it as soon as possible. Now the highest forum in the country in regards to dispute resolution has taken up this matter, so now you hold your positions, please restrain," Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, one of the five judges hearing the case, told the court.

The ruling was applauded by Mr. Khan, who held a press conference at his home on the outskirts of Islamabad to declare victory.

"I am so happy that the Supreme Court has decided that from Thursday it will begin probing Nawaz Sharif," he said, surrounded by ecstatic supporters.

He added that his supporters would instead hold a rally thanking the Supreme Court for its decision.

The move brought an anti-climactic end to what observers believed could have become a protracted confrontation, similar to a four-month sit-in led by Mr. Khan in 2014.

Although Mr. Khan had repeatedly vowed to bring a million protesters to the capital, disruption was thus far limited to a few areas around the city and the Peshawar-Islamabad highway, where some 5,000 PTI supporters were blocked from entering the capital.

The planned protest also came at a sensitive time for Mr. Sharif, whose relationship with the all-powerful army is at a low following the publication of a media report, which said civilian officials had warned the military to stop backing jihadist fighters abroad.

The military has used the pretext of civil unrest to sweep in and replace elected governments three times in the country's history, and analysts had warned that Mr. Sharif may need to strike a deal with the Army to ensure his survival. </s> ISLAMABAD, Aug 9 (APP): Thrice deposed Prime Minister and PML-N leader Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Wednesday embarked on a historic political journey to his hometown Lahore along with thousands of his party supporters after his disqualification by the apex court on charges which he refused to accept but still implemented the decision.

 Meeting the same fate in 2017 as he met in 1993 and 1999,

 Sharif this time decided to convey his displeasure to the masses, contrary to previous democratic fiascos when either he opted not to show his power or go to exile.

 This time he opted for a long journey to Lahore through

 Grand Trunk (GT) Road where he will address his party workers at different points and brief them on reasons that led to another incomplete tenure as prime minister.

 Nawaz Sharif departed for Lahore from Punjab House Islamabad Wednesday morning with plans to remain on the road for minimum of three days before reaching his destination where an important election in NA-120, the seat fallen vacant after his disqualification, would take place in September.

 Amid tight security after recent Lahore blast, he

 started his journey along with thousands of party workers

 and supporters from across the country. He would be addressing party workers at different stopovers during his journey.

 Around 2,500 security personnel were deployed on his route

 in the federal capital from Punjab House to Faizabad from where he entered the jurisdiction of Punjab province. Nawaz Sharif will be voyaging through different towns and cities of Punjab province.

 Thousands of party workers from KP led by Engineer Amir Muqam, the stronghold of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf also joined Nawaz Sharif while local leadership in twin cities also pulled large number of party workers for a gracious send off to their leader.

 Elaborate security arrangements were made for the rally

 with deployment of 2500 security personnel deployed in the federal capital, 600 from Missa Kaswal to Jhelum river on G T Road other than deployment at different places on his route to Lahore. Moreover, 1200 personnel and commandoes have been deployed for

 security of the rally. As many as 33 ambulances and nine fire

 brigade vehicles were accompanying the rally while more than 6000 personnel have been deployed along G T Road for the security of rally.

 People had started reaching twin cities and Punjab House from early in the morning carrying banners, posters and placards bearing slogans and photographs of their leaders. Party workers set up reception camps along G T Road to accord warm welcome to their leader. Caravans also reached from Azad Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Attock and other areas adjoining the twin cities.

 Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and cabinet members of the PML-N, party leaders and large number of workers and supporters also arrived at the Punjab House for a warm send off to Nawaz Sharif.

 The rally departed from Punjab House around 1130 hours with special prayers and best wishes for the success of democracy, masses welfare and a strong Pakistan.

 Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi bid farewell to Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

 Those who came to see him off included Governor Khyber

 Pakhtunkhwa Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, almost all members of the federal cabinet, besides the Prime Minister of AJK Raja Farooq Haider, parliamentarians and party workers.

 Prime Minister Khaqan Abbasi warmly hugged Nawaz Sharif before he sat in his car surrounded by large number of party workers who were chanting slogans of “Wazir-e-Azam Nawaz Sharif”. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar also hugged Nawaz Sharif while cabinet members warmly shook hands. Nawaz Sharif waved to the workers gathered around his vehicle.

 The session of the National Assembly was also adjourned owing to lack of quorum as the ruling party members opted to head to the Punjab House.

 A specially designed armoured container had been prepared for Nawaz Sharif, from where he would address public rallies along the route.

 Minister for Defence Engineer Khurram Dastagir said that

 people of Pakistan, who had used their right of vote for Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and elected Nawaz Sharif as leader of the country, were now expressing their great attachment with him.

 He said that Nawaz Sharif was going to home via GT Road after the decision of the apex court. He wanted to share his concern over disqualification with the people, who had

 elected him thrice as prime minister, he added.

 Huge Chinese investment in the shape of China Pakistan

 Economic Corridor (CPEC), and growing relations with regional countries, including Central Asian States, were the result of policies of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, he said.

 Khurram appreciated the role of Pakistan armed forces in the

 war against terrorism. He said Pakistan had given a lot of

 sacrifices in wiping out the menace of terrorism.

 Replying to a query, he said the PML-N had made all

 arrangements with its own funds to welcome former prime minister.

 Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme Marvi Memon said the passion of workers for their leader Nawaz Sharif was worth seeing and at the time he would reach Lahore, his popularity would open eyes of the opponents.

 Marvi Memon said the rally was just a start and the passion of workers of PML-N would touch new heights in coming hours.

 MNA Sardar Awais Ahmad Laghari on Wednesday said holding a rally was a constitutional right of the party.

 Former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was leading a rally from Islamabad to Lahore via Grand Truck (GT) road on the demand of people of country, he said talking to a private news channel.

 Replying to a question, he said during Pakistan

 Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) sit-ins at D-Chowk, its chief Imran Khan had threatened to topple the elected government which was an unconstitutional act.

 Chairman Board of Investment (BoI), Miftah Ismail said that

 former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was an asset for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the country.

 Commenting on the rally, he said that like other political

 parties, the former PM had also held the right to go in the public for apprising them about reservations over the decision.

 To a question, he said that PML-N had implemented the

 decision of the court regarding disqualification of the former

 prime minister.

 Senior PML-N leader Dr Musadik Malik said thousands of

 people had expressed their love and trust in former Prime

 Minister Nawaz Sharif by participating in his rally.

 Despite reservations over the Panama Papers verdict, Nawaz Sharif had implemented it to strengthen state institutions in letter, he said while talking to a private news channel.

 The PML-N had provided the security to the rallies taken out

 by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf during sit-ins, he said.

 Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders thanked the party workers for their active participation in the Islamabad-Lahore rally led by former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

 “The party workers’ passion, solidarity with their

 beloved leader Nawaz Sharif and participation in the rally is

 exemplary,” they said while addressing the rally participants

 at the I-9 Interchange.

 Minister for Railways Saad Rafique said active

 participation of a huge number of PML-N workers in the rally

 indicated that Muhammad Nawaz Sharif lived in hearts of

 the public and he would continue to rule their hearts.

 “I congratulate the workers of PML-N for participating

 in the rally, their participation in the rally indicate that

 conspiracies cannot cause any dent to popularity of Nawaz

 Sharif,” he added.

 He said journey of nine kilometers from Punjab House

 to I-8 interchange was completed in five hours, and the rally’s arrival time in Lahore could not be determined, keeping in view the current pace.

 President of PML-N Khyber Pakhtunkhawa Amir Muqam appreciated the charged party workers and termed the rally-day a historic in the country’s politics.

 He said, “The people are with Muhammad Nawaz Sharif

 due to their love and loyalty with Pakistan and he will remain so in the hearts of people.”

 Prime Minister Azad Jammu Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider,

 Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman and

 the PML-N leadership from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab are participating in the rally.

 Minister for Climate Change, Senator Musahidullah Khan said

 people were warmly receiving the rally of former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, who was living in the hearts of masses.

 Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government would

 foil all the conspiracies against the democracy, he said talking

 to a private news channel.

 He said the continuity of democratic system was imperative

 for stability and prosperity of the country.

 Minister of State for Interior Talal Chauhdry said Nawaz

 Sharif was the prime minister of the people and their hearts.

 He said people came out to warmly greet to their cherished

 leader Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

 The rally of forme prime minister would conclude at the

 shrine of Hazrat Data Darbar Lahore, the minister said.

 Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal said the people were warmly

 welcoming the former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, who was leaving for Lahore via G.T.Road.

 People were expressing their emotions and love with Nawaz

 Sharif during the rally, he added.

 The minister said the opponents were worried about this

 situation and public participation in the rally.

 He said Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) would witness the

 popularity of the PML-N among masses and their rising support in days to come.

 Minister of State for Capital Administration and

 Development Division (CADD) Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, who was also in the rally, said “We will tell the masses that Nawaz Sharif was disqualified on the basis of Iqama not corruption”.

 Minister for Health Services and Regulations Saira Afzal Tarar

 said conspiracies against Nawaz Sharif would die down

 with the passage of time and he would emerge victorious against all odds.

 Senator Asif Saeed Kirmani said huge gathering in the rally

 reflected love of the masses for the former prime minister, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

 He said, “People are eagerly waiting to have a glimpse of their leader Nawaz Sharif. They know that their leader Nawaz Sharif was not involved in corruption and faced victimization”, he said.

 Leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)

 Hanif Abbasi said that today PML-N rally alongwith the former PM Nawaz Sharif on his departure from Islamabad to Lahore was the biggest political event in the country.

 Hanif while rejecting the allegation against the party from

 the opposition said “We never invited the public on calls and they are not being manipulated and participated in the rally on their sweet will”.

 The rally led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was warmly welcomed at D Chowk by thousands of workers reaching here from different parts of country.

 The participants were carrying banners and placards bearing

 pictures of party leaders and slogans for PML-N and Nawaz Sharif.

 The participants were also chanting slogans for their leader

 extending their full support.

 Former Prime Minister waived to party workers and responded to their support and slogans. Fool proof security arrangements have been made for the rally during its voyage within the capital territory.

 Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said that the rally is

 being arranged by the people on their own will and desire, adding that this was public decision and public opinion cannot be wrong”.

 He said that it is purely public rally and it has no link with

 the court decision. He said rally is not against anybody but it is people’s desire to show their love for Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
Over 1,500 supporters of opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf are arrested ahead of a planned protest in the capital Islamabad against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.