Pakistan police crack down on Khan supporters

(8 Mar 2023) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Lahore - 8 March 2023 1. Various of supporters of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan facing off with police; protesters chanting (Urdu) “We will take freedom“ 2. Various of police using tear gas and supporters throwing stones 3. Police using water cannon to disperse protesters 4. Wide of site after protesters disperse 5. Protester being dragged away by police 6. Female supporter holding stick and shouting towards police 7. SOUNDBITE (Urdu) Neelum Shehzadi, supporter. “We were peaceful but police start shelling toward us, broke my car, we successfully saved ourselves. But police followed us and started beating us with sticks, after that we told other people for God's sake to go back, as they (police) are beating everyone.” 8. Supporters marching and chanting (Urdu) “Khan your lovers are countless“ 9. Police walking 10. Road toward Khan's residence blocked with shipping containers and surrounded by police STORYLINE: Pakistani police used water cannons and fired tear gas to disperse supporters of the country’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday in the eastern city of Lahore. Two dozen supporters were arrested for defying a government ban on holding rallies, police said. The developments followed Khan’s launching of provincial election campaigns on Tuesday for eastern Punjab and northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province provinces, where the ex-premier's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party has held a majority in past rounds of voting. Khan, now opposition leader, was ousted in a no-confidence vote in Parliament last April. He has claimed his removal was illegal and has also campaigned for early parliamentary elections. The government of his successor, Shahbaz Sharif, has dismissed Khan's demands, saying the nationwide vote will take place as scheduled later in the year. A senior leader from Khan's party, Hammad Azhar, said police detained scores of their supporters ahead of the planned rally, which was to start in Lahore's upscale Zaman Park area where Khan lives. Police also swung batons and briefly fired tear gas on the road leading to Khan’s house to disperse his supporters. Footage showed at least one large truck spraying water, scattering protesters. Khan, who was in his home at the time, condemned the use of “massive police violence against unarmed" people. AP Video by Faisal Anjum =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected]. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...