This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-28723254
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Pakistan police and Qadri supporters in deadly clash | Pakistan police and Qadri supporters in deadly clash |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least four people have been killed in Pakistan's Punjab province, in clashes between police and supporters of a leading anti-government cleric. | At least four people have been killed in Pakistan's Punjab province, in clashes between police and supporters of a leading anti-government cleric. |
| Many have been wounded in the violence, which occurred after police blocked roads to the provincial capital Lahore. | Many have been wounded in the violence, which occurred after police blocked roads to the provincial capital Lahore. |
| The cleric, Tahirul Qadri, is due to hold a large demonstration in the city on Sunday. | The cleric, Tahirul Qadri, is due to hold a large demonstration in the city on Sunday. |
| The event is partly a protest against the deaths of at least eight Qadri supporters in at a rally in June. | |
| The cleric said that the latest clashes began on Friday when police tried to stop convoys of protesters gathering near his home in Lahore. | |
| His supporters briefly abducted six police officers, before releasing them unharmed. | |
| Police said they fired tear gas and that about 20 officers were wounded. Around 500 protesters were also arrested, police said. | |
| Military ties | |
| Mr Qadri, who until recently was based in Canada, returned to Pakistan in June and is one of Pakistan's most prominent political and religious figures. | |
| He leads the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) party and has condemned the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as corrupt. | He leads the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) party and has condemned the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as corrupt. |
| Mr Qadri says he plans to lead a peaceful revolt against Mr Sharif, who he says has failed to solve basic problems such as unemployment and frequent electricity outages. | |
| At least eight people were killed when police in Lahore used live ammunition against his followers last month. | At least eight people were killed when police in Lahore used live ammunition against his followers last month. |
| Correspondents say there is widespread suspicion in Pakistan that Mr Qadri's return was encouraged by Pakistan's powerful military, following recent tensions with the prime minister. | Correspondents say there is widespread suspicion in Pakistan that Mr Qadri's return was encouraged by Pakistan's powerful military, following recent tensions with the prime minister. |
| Mr Qadri has called for a military-backed government to take over from Mr Sharif, but has denied being supported by the army. | |
| Opposition politician Imran Khan is also due to lead a large demonstration in Islamabad on Thursday. | |
| He says there were irregularities in the last year's parliamentary elections, in which his Tehreek-e-Insaf party came second. | |
| Police have already blocked off many roads around Islamabad ahead of Mr Khan's protest. |