Long march heads to Islamabad: Nawaz Sharif

  Updated at: 1820 PST,

Sunday, March 15, 2009  
The International News, ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Mian Nawaz Sharif told Geo News on Sunday that he is leading the long march towards Islamabad after reaching GPO Chowk here.

The long march comprises thousands of participants including lawyers, political workers and members of civil society.

Police tried to block the way of caravan led by Nawaz Sharif who came out of his house in spite of the government orders of detention served to him. However, the police retreated after a little while giving way to the caravan.

At GPO Road, clash broke out between enraged protesters and police which used heavy shelling to disperse the protestors.

The Nawaz-led caravan comprising party workers and people kept marching on, breaking all the hurdles erected on their way while scuffles between police and protesters continued.

Police deployment had been increased in Model Town where barbed wires were laid to block the roads. Police continued heavy shelling and baton charged marchers to thwart the long march, injuring many.

Nawaz Sharif spear-headed the long march along with flood of people, pushing ahead through barricades and hurdles. They crossed the Kalma Chowk where heavy contingents of police were deployed to stop the march. However, the police disappeared after a while.

The number of people participating in the long march kept building up steadily and the caravan of hundreds turned into thousands.

The police seemed to have changed its strategy and decided to retreat upon seeing the ocean of people approaching.

Nawaz-led long march reaches GPO Chowk

  Updated at: 1805 PST,

Sunday, March 15, 2009  
  The International News, LAHORE:

The long march led by Pakistan Muslim League-N Chief Nawaz Sharif has reached GPO Chowk, Lahore.

The long march comprises thousands of participants including lawyers, political workers and members of civil society.

Police tried to block the way of caravan led by Nawaz Sharif who came out of his house in spite of the government orders of detention served to him. However, the police retreated after a little while giving way to the caravan.

At GPO Road, clash broke out between enraged protesters and police which used heavy shelling to disperse the protestors.

The Nawaz-led caravan comprising party workers and people kept marching on, breaking all the hurdles erected on their way while scuffles between police and protesters continued.

Police deployment has been increased in Model Town where barbed wires were laid to block the roads. Heavy shelling was used to thwart the protest and marchers were baton charged, injuring many protesters.

Nawaz Sharif spear-headed the long march along with flood of people, pushing ahead through barricades and hurdles. They crossed the Kalma Chowk where heavy contingents of police were deployed to stop the march. However, the police disappeared after a while.

The number of people participating in the long march kept building up steadily and the caravan of hundreds turned into thousands.

The police seemed to have changed its strategy and decided to retreat upon seeing the ocean of people approaching.

Deputy AGP resigns in protest against torturing of lawyers

  Updated at: 1720 PST, Sunday, March 15, 2009  
  TIN, ISLAMABAD:

Deputy Attorney General of Pakistan Abdul Hai Gilani has resigned from the post to mark his protest against the torturing of lawyers, locking up of High Court and tear-gas shelling in Lahore.

Talking to Geo News, Abdul Hai Gilani said lawyers have been subjected to torture and tear-gas shells have been fired in the vicinity of Lahore High Court.

He said the whole country has been blocked with the help of containers.

“I have resigned from the post of Deputy Attorney General of Pakistan in protest against all these acts,” Abdul Hai Gilani said.

Containers placed at Mangla dam to stop marchers

  Updated at: 1715 PST, Sunday, March 15, 2009  

  TIN, MIRPUR:

Several containers have been placed at Mangla dam in an attempt to stop the caravans of Azad Kashmir from participating in the long march and subsequent sit-in in Islamabad.

All entry and exit points of the city have been blocked to thwart the long march. The long queues of vehicles can be seen in the area.

Besides, the people carrying passports and visas are not being allowed to go to the airport.

On this occasion, lawyers and citizens chanted anti-government slogans in protest against such harsh measures.

Aitzaz manages to reach GPO Chowk Lahore

  Updated at: 1705 PST, Sunday, March 15, 2009  

TIN,  LAHORE:

Former president Supreme Court Bar Association Aitzaz Ahsan managed to escape house arrest and arrived at GPO chowk, Lahore to participate in the long march.

According to sources, Aitzaz Ahsan was detained at his residence where heavy contingent of police of deployed but he managed to escape and reached at GPO Chowk.

Talking to media here at GPO Chowk, he said the detention was illegal.

Shahbaz calls on govt to respect BB’s message

  Updated at: 1700 PST, Sunday, March 15, 2009  

TIN,  RAWALPINDI:

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Mian Shahbaz Sharif has said that that the rulers should respect the wish and message of their slain leader Benazir Bhutto and restore the deposed chief justice.

Speaking to Geo News senior analyst Kamran Khan here on Sunday, Shahbaz Sharif said: “President Asif Ali Zardari has humiliated the nation by not fulfilling the promises he made regarding restoration of judiciary.”

“There is no need to call any Aristotle and Socrates for the implementation of agreements,” he said.

He said that PML-N never asked its people to damage public or private properties and appealed to the people to take part in the long march in peaceful manner.

“Nawaz Sharif has said that our first priority is to restore judges,” he added.

PML-N to show its strength in Islamabad tomorrow: Asif

  Updated at: 1625 PST, Sunday, March 15, 2009  

TIN,  ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership has started to arrive in federal capital here on Sunday.

According to reports reaching here, a member of the Punjab Assembly (MPA) Waris Kalsoom has reached Islamabad along with her 250 supporters.

While PML-N leader Khawaja Asif told Geo News that he was already in Islamabad and would appear on the roads very soon.

“Today, it is the Lahore’s today. Tomorrow will be day of Islamabad and Rawalpindi,” he said.