ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: In compliance with Court orders, heavy contingents of police, Frontier Constabulary (FC), and Rangers commenced operation on Saturday morning against the sit-in protesters at Faizabad Interchange, using tear gas to disperse the protesters and detaining dozens in the process.
The operation was commenced against sit-in protesters of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah and Sunni Tehreek Pakistan on Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) orders following expiry of the midnight deadline set by the district administration.
Prison vans and ambulances are at the site while riot police also used water cannons to disperse the protesters.
During the clash with protesters, one police man was martyred in F-8/4 area while several other police officials were injured as protesters pelted stones and rocks at them.
So far more than 100 protesters as well as security personnel received injuries, out of them 80 were shifted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) whereas 40 were rushed to Polyclinic for treatment. Many other injured were also admitted in Rawalpindi’s Cities.
Protesters were seen fleeing the scene as police restored to teargas shelling to evacuate the Interchange.
So far at least 300 protesters have been apprehended by police since the operation was launched around 7:30 am.
Also read: Protests erupt in various Cities against Faizabad operation
According to district administration sources, the Faizabad interchange is now in control of authorities as the operation continues.
Talking to media, the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Captain (retd) Mushtaq said, “We have issued orders to commence the operation.”
Minutes prior to starting the operation, Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) removed the barbed wire fences surrounding the sit-in are, where protesters belonging to a religious party had been demonstrating for 20 days. Protesters also pelted stones at riot police.
Meanwhile, markets and bus stops in Faizabad and its surrounding areas are completely empty while police have banned entry for all unrelated persons.
“We will clear the Faizabad area today in line with court’s orders,” a senior police officer said adding that “We will try our best to make sure there is no fatality.”
As the midnight deadline given by district administration expired, the protesters belonging to a religious party remained camped at the Faizabad Interchange overnight, continuing their protest over vital transport junction.
Meanwhile, the interior ministry disclosed that four CCTV cameras that were monitoring the demonstration had their wires cut. The Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal took notice and asked for a report on the matter.
Late Friday night, the district administration of the federal capital had also issued a final warning to protesters of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah and Sunni Tehreek Pakistan, camped at Faizabad Interchange, and had told them to disperse by midnight, threatening to take action of the order was not followed.
The warning was issued through a notification issued by the district magistrate.
It is mentioned that the protest has resulted in severe issues for residents of the Capital and Rawalpindi, who face traffic jams and mobility issues on a daily basis.
Talks between the government and protesters belonging to both religious parties last Saturday and then on Monday and even till mid-night of Friday were conducted but these failed with no breakthrough in sight, as protest leaders continued to demand resignation of Federal Minister for Law and Justice Zahid Hamid.
