Policeman killed, over 200 injured in Islamabad clashes

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At least one policeman was killed and over 200 people injured in clashes between security forces and protesters in Pakistan's capital of Islamabad on Saturday during the police's operation against religious sit-in protest, local media reported.

The police officer suffered a deadly blow to the head as protesters pelted stones at security forces during the operation, said local Dunya News, adding that at least 56 security personnel were among the injured.

Police fire tear gas during clashes with protesters at Faizabad junction in Islamabad, Pakistan, November 25, 2017. /Reuters Photo‍

Heavy contingent of police and paramilitary rangers launched a crackdown against the protesters who have been camped at the key route linking Islamabad and Rawalpindi city, paralyzing the country's capital for almost three weeks.

Security forces resorted to rubber-bullet after the protesters put up the resistance. The law enforcement agencies fired tear gas shells and used water cannons to disperse the protesters, which were met with stones from the protesters.

As many as 370 protesters have been taken into custody by the law enforcement agencies, said police officials, adding that the helicopters and drones are being used by the authorities for aerial surveillance.

At least 10 motorcycles and two vehicles were torched by the protesters, said the reports.

A policeman leans on his shield in the police staging area and watch demonstrators near the Faizabad junction in Islamabad, Pakistan, November 25, 2017. /Reuters Photo

The protesters from various religious parties were protesting against a religion-related amendment in the oath taken by parliamentarians. The amendment was retracted after the strong protests from religious community, but they still demand the step-down of the federal law minister.

The Islamabad High Court on November 18 directed the local administration to clear the Faizabad Interchange, the main gateway between the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, within 24 hours. However, the government did not carry out the orders and initiated several rounds of talks with the protesters to disperse them peacefully, but failed each time.

The operation on Saturday came a day after the Islamabad High Court issued a show-cause notice for contempt of court to Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal over his failure to take steps ordered by the court to end the sit-in.

Crackdown against the protesters also sparked protests in other parts of the country. In southern port city of Karachi, people supporting the sit-in took to the streets and blocked several roads, causing disruption in traffic flow.

Supporters of the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan, an Islamist political party, place hurdles and block the main road leading to airport in Karachi, Pakistan, November 25, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Clashes also erupted between supporters of sit-in and police after they burnt tires and blocked roads and railway tracks in the country's eastern cities of Lahore and Daska.

According to the local administration, the Faizabad Interchange is now under control of authorities as the operation is still underway.

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Source(s): Xinhua News Agency