Imran supporters, cops clash

Islamabad, October 28

The Pakistani police on Friday fired tear gas at stone-throwing supporters of opposition leader Imran Khan who defied a ban on public gatherings, adding to political deadlock ahead of his plans to shut down the capital next week. 

There was no immediate report of injuries but TV stations carried footage of police charging with batons, as plumes of tear gas billowed in the air.

Police surrounded the home of former cricket hero Khan, who called for nationwide protests after dozens of activists from his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party were arrested a day earlier.

The protests have added to the chaos ahead of Khan’s plans to lock down the capital on Wednesday in what he described as a final push to force Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resign over corruption allegations.

Khan had vowed to join Friday’s planned rally but had not left his home, with a heavy police presence outside, by the afternoon and was scheduled to hold a press briefing. — PTI