Pakistan’s ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan has stopped a protest march by his supporters following clashes with police outside parliament.
Key points:
- Khan has threatened to protest again with his supporters if his demand is not met
- He wants to dissolve Parliament and hold new elections
- Political unrest comes amid an economic crisis
However, he has threatened to return unless elections are called within six days.
Khan had gathered thousands of supporters in Islamabad, with plans to occupy parts of the capital until Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif yielded to his demand for new polls.
Mr. Khan, however, told his followers on Thursday morning to resign, while handing over a new ultimatum to Mr. Khan. Sharif.
“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.
He said parliament would 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 (IMF).
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.
Tear 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.
He was reportedly confronted by the country’s powerful armies before being ousted by a united opposition that accused him of mismanagement of 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 Bhutto and Sharif families, have joined forces 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 close 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.
However, on Wednesday afternoon, the Supreme Court ordered that the barriers be removed and told the government to designate an open place for Khan supporters to meet.
Protesters did not follow court orders, however, and hundreds arrived in the heart of the capital, where fighting raged with police for hours before Khan and the main group of protesters 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, arresting hundreds of protesters and burning hundreds of protesters.
Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said at least 18 police and paramilitary troops were injured 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.
Reuters