ISLAMABAD, May 26 (Reuters) – Pakistan’s ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday dispelled a protest march by supporters after clashes with police outside parliament, but threatened to return if elections were not called. a period of six days.
Khan had gathered thousands of supporters in Islamabad with plans to occupy sensitive areas of the capital until Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif yielded to his demand for new polls, but Khan told his followers on Thursday morning to step back. , while giving a new ultimatum. Read more
“I give you six days. Announce elections in six days,” Khan said from the top of a truck after he and thousands of his supporters arrived in the city.
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He said parliament should be dissolved to hold elections in June and warned the government that it would once again lead a march on the capital if it did not comply with its demands.
Khan’s attempt to destabilize Sharif’s coalition government a month ago runs the risk of fueling tensions during an economic crisis that has forced Pakistan to seek urgent help from the International Monetary Fund. Read more
The government convened a joint session of parliament on Thursday to discuss the economic crisis following talks with IMF officials in Doha the day before.
The IMF said considerable progress had been made, but stressed the urgent need for Pakistan to withdraw fuel and energy subsidies.
LAGRÀRIGO GAS, BATON LOADS
Khan has said the vote of confidence that overthrew him last month was the result of a US conspiracy and is calling for new elections to prove he has national support.
Ousted Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan gestures as he travels in a vehicle to lead a protest march in Islamabad, Pakistan, on May 26, 2022. REUTERS / Akhtar Soomro
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He was reportedly confronted by the country’s powerful armies before being ousted by a united opposition, which accused him of mismanaging the government, the economy and foreign relations.
Washington and the Pakistani military have denied any involvement in the fall of Khan.
Pakistan’s two main parties, led by rival families Bhutto and Sharif, have teamed up to overthrow Khan. These two political dynasties have ruled the South Asian nation of more than 220 million people several times before, while Khan had barely come to power until he emerged as the winner of the last election almost four years ago.
A former charismatic captain of the national cricket team, Khan has expanded his appeal to both young people and large socially conservative Pakistanis by taking a populist stance on nationalist and religious issues.
His call for a march on Islamabad had prompted the government to close the main roads leading to the capital, but on Wednesday afternoon, the Supreme Court ordered the removal of the barriers and told the government to designate an open site. for Khan’s supporters to gather.
Protesters did not follow court orders, however, and hundreds arrived in the heart of the capital, where fighting raged with police for several hours before Khan and the main body of the rally entered the city.
Police in riot gear stormed a rally on Friday, removing hundreds of protesters by truck. Police in riot gear stormed a rally on Friday, removing hundreds of protesters by truck. Police in riot gear stormed a rally on Friday, removing hundreds of protesters.
At least 18 police and paramilitary troops were injured, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said after dozens of protesters broke the last line of security outside parliament.
There were also clashes in several cities in Punjab province and the port city of Karachi in the south. Read more
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Report by Asif Shahzad; Edited by Simon Cameron-Moore
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