Ousted Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz spent night in jail as their supporters clashed with police late on Friday. Both Nawaz and Maryam were arrested on their return to Pakistan on Friday and were sent to Adiala in Rawalpindi.
Ousted Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz spent night in jail as their supporters clashed with police late on Friday. Both Nawaz and Maryam were arrested on their return to Pakistan on Friday and were sent to Adiala in Rawalpindi.
At least 50 people were injured on Friday during clashes between PML-N workers and police in Pakistan's Punjab province during rallies held in connection with the arrival of Sharif and his daughter in Lahore.
"At least 50 people including 20 policemen have been injured during clashes between PML-N workers, police and rangers mostly in Lahore and some adjoining districts in Punjab," Punjab police spokesman Niyab Haider told PTI.
He said the major clashes took place late last night between the PML-N workers, police and rangers at the Joray Pul, some 5 km away from Lahore airport, where the PML-N rally was stopped. The protesters pelted police and rangers with stones when they fired tear gas on them.
"It was not understandable as to why the PML-N workers were pressing ahead to get to the airport despite the fact that Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz were arrested at the airport and flown to Islamabad on a jet," he said."Some 25 PML-N workers and policemen have been injured in this clash." In two other clashes in Lahore at Ravi bridge and Bhutta Chowk Lahore, seven policemen and 10 PML-N workers suffered injuries.
PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb told PTI a number of its workers had been injured in clashes with police.
"Thousands of our workers stopped at different entry points of Lahore who were coming from other parts of Lahore to join a rally here to welcome Nawaz and Maryam." She condemned the police for using force to stop PML-N workers. She also demanded immediate release of its workers after the court directive. The Lahore High Court on Friday ordered the release of over 370 PML-N workers who were detained ahead of its Lahore rally.
The country's anti-graft body - National Accountability Bureau - arrested Nawaz and Maryam in the Evenfield properties case upon their arrival and shifted them to Sahala Rest House Rawalpindi after declaring it sub-jail. The plane carrying Sharif, the supremo of the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz, and Maryam landed at Lahore's Allama Iqbal Airport at 9:15 IST, nearly three hours late from the scheduled arrival.
The two were convicted on July 6 in the Evenfield properties case linked to the Sharif family's ownership of four luxury flats in London. Nawaz and Maryam have been sentenced to 10 and seven years imprisonment, respectively.
Thousands of people participated in the PML-N rally led by its president Shahbaz Sharif in Lahore that ended last night midnight without reaching the airport to welcome Nawaz and Maryam. Shahbaz managed to take out a rally despite imposition of section 144 that bars assembly of more than five people.
The rally kicked off at the Lohari Gate in the afternoon and could manage to proceed a few kilometers as party workers struggled to remove cargo containers on their way. Close to the airport, Sharif's supporters clashed with police which otherwise did not stop them from removing containers. "It appears the Punjab caretaker government had reached a deal with the of PML-N withdrawing thousands of policemen to give a free hand to reach close to the Lahore airport and wind up the rally," a senior police officer told PTI. "We have orders from our top command not to take action against the PML-N rally participants," he said.
The PML-N workers joined in the rally from different points in Lahore. Talking to reporters before reaching the airport, Shahbaz said "a sea of people" has turned up today to give historic reception to Sharif."The people of Lahore has given a verdict ahead of July 25 polls," he declared. "I am thankful to the people of Lahore for coming out in such a huge number," he said, adding that the people have rejected the decision of the court to convict Sharif and Maryam.
Speaking to the BBC at Abu Dhabi airport as he waited to change planes, Sharif said: "What credibility will these elections have when the government is taking such drastic action against our people and this crackdown is taking place all over the country?" In a video message, tweeted by Maryam, the former premier urged his followers to stand with him and "change the fate of the country". "The country is at a critical juncture right now," a grim looking Sharif said. Sharif was disqualified by the Supreme Court last year in the Panama Papers case.
(With PTI inputs)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Police use force to disperse supporters of former pm Nawaz Sharif who gathered to see him in Lahore, Pakistan, July 13, PTI")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}