This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/url-pakistan-islamabad-protests-rawalpindi-tehreek-i-labaik-ya-rasool-allah-shahid-khaqan-abbasi-a8075871.html
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Pakistan protests: Reports say hundreds injured and army called in to restore calm after clashes with Islamist groups | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| .The army has been called in by the Pakistani government to restore order following violent protests by Islamist groups. | |
| The country's Ministry of Interior authorised the military deployment as clashes between protesters and police spread from the capital Islamabad to other cities, with officers in riot gear firing tear gas and rubber bullets into crowds. | |
| Early on Saturday, after a midnight deadline expired, police launched an operation to clear protesters from an intersection linking Islamabad with the garrison city of Rawalpindi, prompting other demonstrators across the country to take to the streets in solidarity and bringing major cities to a virtual standstill. | |
| The Pakistani capital has been paralysed for weeks by those supporting firebrand Muslim cleric Khadim Hussain, who leads the Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah party. | |
| The police action and reaction from protesters, who had camped out at the venue for the last 20 days, sent scores of injured police and protesters to hospitals with injuries caused by stoning and respiratory problems from tear gas. | |
| Hospital officials said almost 200 people were injured - the majority of them police officers. At least 150 people are believed to have been arrested. | |
| All television broadcasting has reportedly been suspended and social media sites including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have been blocked. | |
| The country's military chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa telephoned Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to call for the peaceful handling of the protest, according to a tweet by military spokesman Maj. Gen Asif Ghafoor. | |
| Senior police officer Ismatullah Junejo said police were swiftly clearing the venue around 300 protesters ignored the final warning to disperse. He said none of the police carried firearms to avoid loss of life, instead using tear gas and a water cannon to disperse the protesters, although witnesses said a police van came under attack and was set on fire after two police officers aimed assault rifles at protesters. | |
| Government officials were not immediately available for comment on the situation. | |
| The Associated Press contributed to this report | |
| More follows ... | |