World News | Lahore bans rally as police use water cannon, tear gas on Imran Khan supporters

Lahore, March 8 (PTI) — Pakistani police on Wednesday fired tear gas and used water cannon to disperse supporters of ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan who gathered outside his residence in defiance of the government’s ban on gatherings.

Khan’s Pakistan Justice Movement (PTI) claimed its “peaceful” workers were arrested amid reports the provincial capital had been placed under Section 144, which bans public gatherings.

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The party branded the police operation “fascist” and sought to “clear the way” for the arrest of the 70-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician.

A large police force placed containers and barricades on the way to the Khan’s residence, blocking all entrances.

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Police used water cannon, fired tear gas and charged PTI workers, including women, with batons. The party said police strapped resisting workers to police vehicles.

Riot police also smashed the cars of PTI workers parked in Zaman Park. Police officials also manhandled journalists protesting the action, it claimed.

Police were unable to arrest Khan last Sunday, mainly because of resistance from a large number of PTI workers.

Khan has been in the crosshairs of buying gifts, including expensive Graff watches he received as prime minister at a discount from a state depository institution called Toshakhana, and selling them at a profit.

Police have registered at least 76 cases against the PTI chief since his ouster last April.

“Police arrested some PTI staff who gathered at Zaman Park,” senior PTI leader Hammad Azhar told a news conference here.

He said police tortured PTI staff and treated women roughly.

“Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi initiated a crackdown on PTI workers at the behest of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is directly in charge of the Punjab government,” he said.

He said it was the fear of Imran Khan that unnerved the government.

“How can the government ban a rally in Lahore when elections in Punjab have been announced for April 30?” he asked.

Shireen Mazari, another senior PTI leader, said: “PTI women workers are being attacked with water cannon. Police attacking vehicles parked on the side of the road, this is an act of wanton vandalism. Fascist CM Mohsin Naqvi has gone crazy. They are using chemicals in the water especially firing water guns at our female workers.”

The PTI rally was called off “out of respect for the dignity of the judiciary”.

Home Minister Rana Sanaullah defended the police action, saying “we have received horrific alerts from the establishment” and therefore banned public gatherings and gatherings in Punjab.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)