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Clashes erupt at Pakistani anti-corruption march | Clashes erupt at Pakistani anti-corruption march |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Police in Islamabad have fired warning shots in the air and used tear gas against anti-corruption protesters on a march led by cleric Tahirul Qadri. | Police in Islamabad have fired warning shots in the air and used tear gas against anti-corruption protesters on a march led by cleric Tahirul Qadri. |
The clashes erupted after demonstrators threw stones at security forces outside parliament. | The clashes erupted after demonstrators threw stones at security forces outside parliament. |
Mr Qadri, who is calling for electoral reform, left the city of Lahore on Sunday with thousands of supporters, and reached Islamabad late on Monday. | Mr Qadri, who is calling for electoral reform, left the city of Lahore on Sunday with thousands of supporters, and reached Islamabad late on Monday. |
Authorities accuse him of trying to postpone elections due by May. | Authorities accuse him of trying to postpone elections due by May. |
The Sunni cleric wants the military and judiciary to be involved in installing a caretaker government to oversee the forthcoming elections. | The Sunni cleric wants the military and judiciary to be involved in installing a caretaker government to oversee the forthcoming elections. |
The government is due to disband in March, and elections must then be held within six weeks. | The government is due to disband in March, and elections must then be held within six weeks. |
Live television coverage on Tuesday showed police firing shots into the air to push back protesters who were hurling stones at officers. | Live television coverage on Tuesday showed police firing shots into the air to push back protesters who were hurling stones at officers. |
Mr Qadri's spokesman told Reuters news agency the demonstrators were trying to prevent security forces from arresting the cleric. | Mr Qadri's spokesman told Reuters news agency the demonstrators were trying to prevent security forces from arresting the cleric. |
Reports of injuries have not yet been verified independently. | Reports of injuries have not yet been verified independently. |
'Believer in democracy' | 'Believer in democracy' |
Earlier, authorities in the capital had said Mr Qadri and his supporters would not be allowed into the city centre. The government had also warned that militants could target the marchers. | Earlier, authorities in the capital had said Mr Qadri and his supporters would not be allowed into the city centre. The government had also warned that militants could target the marchers. |
An extra 15,000 police were deployed and many parts of the capital sealed off. | An extra 15,000 police were deployed and many parts of the capital sealed off. |
Addressing tens of thousands of supporters late on Monday night, Mr Qadri called for provincial assemblies to make way for a caretaker administration. | Addressing tens of thousands of supporters late on Monday night, Mr Qadri called for provincial assemblies to make way for a caretaker administration. |
He wants measures put in place to prevent corrupt people or criminals from standing for elected office. | He wants measures put in place to prevent corrupt people or criminals from standing for elected office. |
"Morally, your government and your assemblies have ended tonight," he said from behind bullet-proof glass on a stage erected on Jinnah Avenue, less than a mile from parliament. | "Morally, your government and your assemblies have ended tonight," he said from behind bullet-proof glass on a stage erected on Jinnah Avenue, less than a mile from parliament. |
"I will give [the government] a deadline until tomorrow to dissolve the federal parliament and provincial assemblies. After that, the people's assembly here will take their own decision." | "I will give [the government] a deadline until tomorrow to dissolve the federal parliament and provincial assemblies. After that, the people's assembly here will take their own decision." |
By the time his procession reached Islamabad, an estimated 10,000 people had joined the slow-moving convoy of cars, buses and trucks - more crowds were waiting in Islamabad to greet the cleric. | By the time his procession reached Islamabad, an estimated 10,000 people had joined the slow-moving convoy of cars, buses and trucks - more crowds were waiting in Islamabad to greet the cleric. |
Tahirul Qadri's flamboyant preaching style and expensive television campaigns have raised his profile in Pakistan in recent weeks. | Tahirul Qadri's flamboyant preaching style and expensive television campaigns have raised his profile in Pakistan in recent weeks. |
But there has also been widespread speculation that he is backed by Pakistan's powerful military, and is being used to reassert the army's control over Pakistani politics. | But there has also been widespread speculation that he is backed by Pakistan's powerful military, and is being used to reassert the army's control over Pakistani politics. |
Mr Qadri has rejected this allegation. "I have no link with military institutions," he told Reuters earlier. "I am one of the biggest staunch believers... of democracy in the whole world." | Mr Qadri has rejected this allegation. "I have no link with military institutions," he told Reuters earlier. "I am one of the biggest staunch believers... of democracy in the whole world." |
The preacher was a prominent supporter of former army chief Pervez Musharraf when he seized power in a coup in 1999, and served in the national assembly under him before moving to Canada in 2006, where he ran a charity. | The preacher was a prominent supporter of former army chief Pervez Musharraf when he seized power in a coup in 1999, and served in the national assembly under him before moving to Canada in 2006, where he ran a charity. |
In December, he returned to Pakistan and was able to mobilise tens of thousands of supporters at a rally in Lahore, but it remains unclear how much support he enjoys across the country. | In December, he returned to Pakistan and was able to mobilise tens of thousands of supporters at a rally in Lahore, but it remains unclear how much support he enjoys across the country. |
Are you in Pakistan? Are you in Islamabad? Did you take part in the demonstrations? Did you witness the protests? Please share your comments and experiences | |
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