ISLAMABAD: After holding a sit-in in Islamabad for two days, Imran Khan on Sunday called on his supporters to kick off a countrywide civil disobedience campaign to push the prime minister to resign – appealing to the public to stop paying utility bills and taxes to the government.
He also gave the prime minister 48 hours to resign.
Earlier, Dr Tahirul Qadri, the chief of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), which is also holding a sit-in in Islamabad, had also given the government 48 hours (until midnight Monday) to meet his demands – which include the dissolution of the current assemblies and the formation of a national government.
Neither specified what would happen in case the government didn’t comply.
Meanwhile, the government on Sunday decided to form two different committees to negotiate with PAT chief Tahirul Qadri and PTI chief Imran Khan in a bid to end the political standoff.
Read our coverage of PTI’s Azadi March and the Inqalab March here.
For our coverage of the last two days’ sit-ins, visit here.
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August 18, 6:08pm
An apparent short circuit interrupts Qadri’s speech.
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August 18, 6:03pm
PAT chief Tahirul Qadri addresses the crowd.
PHOTO:EXPRESS NEWS SCREENGRAB
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August 18, 5:57pm
Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar met with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif to discuss the security situation in Islamabad on Monday, Express News reported.
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August 18, 4:36pm
Tahir ul Qadri’s Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and its allied parties have rejected talks with the government and said that they will be giving a call for country-wide protests to press their demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
Talking to reporters after their meeting with Qadri, the heads of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) said they will hold talks only after the Sharif brothers resign.
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August 15, 4:02pm
Opposition parties distanced themselves Monday from Imran Khan’s call for mass civil disobedience to unseat the government, as talks began to try to end a destabilising five-day political standoff.
Former president Zardari says Khan’s willingness to use unconstitutional means to pursue his goals threaten democracy.
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August 18, 3:50pm
The Lahore High Court Bar Association has moved a petition in the Supreme Court against the ‘Inqilab’ and ‘Azadi’ marches in the capital and the PTI-led civil disobedience movement, announced by PTI chairman Imran Khan.
Read more here.
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August 18, 3:12pm
The Supreme Court has rejected the federal government’s plea seeking to restrain protesters from moving toward the Red Zone area of the capital.
“That is something for the government to handle,” Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk said, while rejecting the attorney general for Pakistan’s (AGP) plea to pass an order stopping protesters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) from entering the area.
Read here for the full story.
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August 18, 2:38pm
PAT chief Tahirul Qadri’s vehicle door has been jammed for over an hour-and-a-half. The party leader plans to travel in the bulletproof vehicle and deliver his address at 4pm today, Express News reported.
PAT president Raheeq Abbasi told the media that it is not clear if this was part of the government’s plan or just an innocent mistake.
The vehicle has a tracker on it and while it is possible to lock the car doors remotely, it is not clear if this is the case. The tracker company could not be reached for comments.
Express News screengrab of Qadri’s vehicle.
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August 18, 2:35pm
PTI’s core committee will meet at Bani Gala at 3pm today to discuss the possible resignation of PTI lawmakers from the assemblies. Sources said that National Assembly Members will also be present at the meeting.
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August 18, 2:10pm
As announced by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar yesterday, the government has proposed the names of 10 representatives of various political parties for two separate negotiating committees – one for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the other for Pakistan Awami Tehreek.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will give a final nod to the proposed names today, and they will also be discussed by parliamentary leaders, after which the negotiations will begin, Express News reported.
According to sources, the five representatives proposed for the committee that will negotiate with the PTI are: Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Sirajul Haq (who will be given the main responsibility), Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah, Senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Aitzaz Ahsan, Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique and Information Minister Pervez Rashid.
Those who have been selected for negotiations with the PAT are: Governor Punjab Chaudhry Sarwar (entrusted with the main responsibility), Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Haider Abbas Rizvi, former interior minister and senior leader of the PPP Rehman Malik and Minister for Planning and Development Ehsan Iqbal.
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August 18, 11:42am
PTI supporters and PAT workers began gathering at Aabpara Chowk in Islamabad on Monday morning despite hot weather in the capital. Despite the heat, supporters of both parties continue to display fervor and enthusiasm.
Water bottles and boxes of biryani were distributed amongst PTI supporters and chairs were also provided at the location.
PAT workers also made their way to Aabpara Chowk and Dr Tahirul Qadri is reportedly present to address any concerns his supporters may have.
Qadri will address the people at 4pm today.
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August 18, 10:56am
Read our political editor’s take on how Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar makes a save for the government.
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August 18, 10:34am
Garbage is strewn everywhere as the smell of human waste hovers in the air. Overcrowded tents housing dozens, soaked by rain and sweat.
Workers rush back and forth with cauldrons full of pulao and water coolers, faced with the uphill task of fulfilling the thirst and hunger of thousands. Roads strewn with rice suggest much of the contents of the cauldrons went straight to the ground instead of people’s mouths. Styrofoam boxes, water bottles, disposable cutlery, rags and sticks are scattered across the area.
Read here for the full story.
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August 18, 05:40am
PTI chief Imran Khan leaving for Bani Gala after spending night in the open with his workers.
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August 18, 12:33am
“We will go to the Red Zone,”the PTI chief says, further requesting the Islamabad police not to stop him and his supporters.
“We are also coming to set you free,” he tells the Islamabad police.
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August 18, 12:31am
Continuing his address to his supporters, Imran says, “After two days, these containers will no longer be in our way.”
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August 18, 12:18pm
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah has called for a parliamentary session at 2pm with representatives from the government and opposition parties to discuss Imran Khan’s ‘Azadi’ march, Express News reports.
Shah has gotten in touch with Leader of Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party Mehmood Achakzai, former interior minister and Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) chief Aftab Sherpao and ANP senior leader Ghulam Ahmed Bilour.
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