ISLAMABAD, Nov 26 (TNS): At least six were killed and more than two hundred were wounded on Saturday as violent clashes broke out between law enforcement personnel and protesters camped out at the Faizabad Interchange.
Finally acting upon court orders, security forces launched an operation against protesters, who had amassed at the Faizabad Interchange which connects Islamabad to Rawalpindi on November 8. Around 8,500 elite police and paramilitary troops in riot gear took part in the clearance operation.
The operation was launched after several attempts by the government to hold talks with the protesters failed, with the latter remaining adamant on the matter of the law minister’s resignation.
The use of tear gas, rubber bullets and batons by security personnel met with fierce resistance by protesters, who increased in number as the operation continued through the day.
At least 150 protesters were arrested before security forces withdrew.
The botched operation resulted in a miserable end when enraged protesters bounced back and forced the forces, which have been eight times larger than them, to retreat from the venue that was once cleared by the forces and it was being said to be the matter of just half an hour to reach out to the canter stage container and arrest the agitating leaders.
After pushing back forces, enraged protesters went berserk and ransacked metro stations, burn down police vans, media DSNG’s, public and govt property beside attacking the homes of ex interior Minister Ch.Nisar and Law Minister Zahid Hamid and injuring MNA Javed Latif.
After the bitter failure of botched operation, the federal government on Sunday called in Punjab Rangers to the aid of civilian law-enforcement agencies and tasked them with handling the agitated law and order situation in Islamabad and clearing the sit-ins held in Faizabad and adjoining areas.
