This article is from the source 'nytimes' 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.nytimes.com/2014/06/18/world/asia/pakistan-police-clash-with-qadri-followers.html
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 7 Killed as Pakistan Police Clash With Preacher’s Followers | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| LAHORE, Pakistan — At least seven people were killed and about 100 injured in Lahore after violent clashes between the police and followers of Muhammad Tahir-ul Qadri, a fiery preacher turned political activist who has called for a mass movement against the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. | LAHORE, Pakistan — At least seven people were killed and about 100 injured in Lahore after violent clashes between the police and followers of Muhammad Tahir-ul Qadri, a fiery preacher turned political activist who has called for a mass movement against the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. |
| The clashes erupted around midnight Monday, when large contingents of police officers reached the headquarters of Pakistan Awami Tehrik, Mr. Qadri’s party and demanded the removal of barricades on roads leading to the headquarters and Mr. Qadri’s residence, calling them illegal. The barricades were set up four years ago after Mr. Qadri issued a decree against the Taliban and received death threats from the militants. | The clashes erupted around midnight Monday, when large contingents of police officers reached the headquarters of Pakistan Awami Tehrik, Mr. Qadri’s party and demanded the removal of barricades on roads leading to the headquarters and Mr. Qadri’s residence, calling them illegal. The barricades were set up four years ago after Mr. Qadri issued a decree against the Taliban and received death threats from the militants. |
| Workers for the party resisted the police demands and the situation turned violent. On Tuesday morning, the police called for reinforcements, including heavy machinery, bulldozers and armored vehicles, to disperse Mr. Qadri’s supporters. Several women and men lay down in front of barriers on the road, challenging the police to run the bulldozer over them. | Workers for the party resisted the police demands and the situation turned violent. On Tuesday morning, the police called for reinforcements, including heavy machinery, bulldozers and armored vehicles, to disperse Mr. Qadri’s supporters. Several women and men lay down in front of barriers on the road, challenging the police to run the bulldozer over them. |
| The police used tear gas and batons against charging protesters before firing bullets into the air to disperse the crowd. Businesses in nearby commercial areas quickly shut down as Model Town, the residential neighborhood around the party’s headquarters, became a battle zone. | The police used tear gas and batons against charging protesters before firing bullets into the air to disperse the crowd. Businesses in nearby commercial areas quickly shut down as Model Town, the residential neighborhood around the party’s headquarters, became a battle zone. |
| The dead included at least five men and two women, according to workers at Jinnah Hospital. The chief minister of Punjab Province, Shahbaz Sharif, said at a news conference that eight people had been killed and 97 injured. | The dead included at least five men and two women, according to workers at Jinnah Hospital. The chief minister of Punjab Province, Shahbaz Sharif, said at a news conference that eight people had been killed and 97 injured. |
| Chaudhry Shafique, the Lahore police chief, blamed the protesters for the violence, saying they had taken the law into their hands. “When the police went to remove illegally set up barricades, the workers of the party started pelting stones from roofs and threw petrol bombs,” he said. | Chaudhry Shafique, the Lahore police chief, blamed the protesters for the violence, saying they had taken the law into their hands. “When the police went to remove illegally set up barricades, the workers of the party started pelting stones from roofs and threw petrol bombs,” he said. |
| Twenty seven police officers were among the injured. Mr. Shafique said that five civilian deaths had been confirmed, attributing them to gunfire from the Qadri camp. Workers for Mr. Qadri’s party, however, said the police had fired directly into the crowd. | Twenty seven police officers were among the injured. Mr. Shafique said that five civilian deaths had been confirmed, attributing them to gunfire from the Qadri camp. Workers for Mr. Qadri’s party, however, said the police had fired directly into the crowd. |
| In January 2013, Mr. Qadri, who is based in Canada, led a march of thousands of followers to Islamabad to demand electoral reforms and the removal the previous government, which was led by the Pakistan Peoples Party. | In January 2013, Mr. Qadri, who is based in Canada, led a march of thousands of followers to Islamabad to demand electoral reforms and the removal the previous government, which was led by the Pakistan Peoples Party. |
| According to the Pakistani Constitution, Mr. Qadri cannot take part in elections because of his dual Pakistani and Canadian citizenship. And despite an ability to mobilize thousands in the streets, he has not attained much formal political power. His party won just one seat in Parliament when it took part in 2002 elections. | According to the Pakistani Constitution, Mr. Qadri cannot take part in elections because of his dual Pakistani and Canadian citizenship. And despite an ability to mobilize thousands in the streets, he has not attained much formal political power. His party won just one seat in Parliament when it took part in 2002 elections. |
| Mr. Qadri’s profile rose again after he threatened to topple Mr. Sharif’s government, accusing it of having come to power by rigging general elections last year. Mr. Qadri has announced that he plans to arrive in Islamabad next Monday and has urged the Pakistani military to provide him protection. | Mr. Qadri’s profile rose again after he threatened to topple Mr. Sharif’s government, accusing it of having come to power by rigging general elections last year. Mr. Qadri has announced that he plans to arrive in Islamabad next Monday and has urged the Pakistani military to provide him protection. |
| Mr. Qadri has sought support for what he promises will be a revolution, but has so far been able to win the backing of only a handful of politicians who failed to win seats in last year’s elections. | Mr. Qadri has sought support for what he promises will be a revolution, but has so far been able to win the backing of only a handful of politicians who failed to win seats in last year’s elections. |
| Government officials have hinted that Mr. Qadri might be arrested if he tries to return to Pakistan next week. They have also warned of possible money laundering investigations against him. | Government officials have hinted that Mr. Qadri might be arrested if he tries to return to Pakistan next week. They have also warned of possible money laundering investigations against him. |
| Mr. Qadri’s protest could add to the troubles of the government at a time when the military has launched a long-awaited military offensive against Taliban leadership in North Waziristan, the rugged mountainous region that has been used as a staging ground for terrorist attacks in Pakistan and across the border in Afghanistan. | Mr. Qadri’s protest could add to the troubles of the government at a time when the military has launched a long-awaited military offensive against Taliban leadership in North Waziristan, the rugged mountainous region that has been used as a staging ground for terrorist attacks in Pakistan and across the border in Afghanistan. |
| On Tuesday, Mr. Qadri, in a telephone address to supporters, condemned what he called highhandedness by the police. He said that the authorities had challenged a peaceful movement and that the police had fired on unarmed protesters. | On Tuesday, Mr. Qadri, in a telephone address to supporters, condemned what he called highhandedness by the police. He said that the authorities had challenged a peaceful movement and that the police had fired on unarmed protesters. |
| In a post on Twitter, Mr. Qadri said that the Pakistani government, “gripped by fear of my arrival,” was harassing his party’s workers. | In a post on Twitter, Mr. Qadri said that the Pakistani government, “gripped by fear of my arrival,” was harassing his party’s workers. |