Clashes in Pakistan as defiant Imran Khan begins march to capital

Clashes have been reported in Pakistan after authorities blocked roads leading to the capital, where a defiant former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party is planning to hold a major rally to demand the removal of the government and immediate general elections.

Police fired tear gas in several districts of Punjab, the country’s largest province, as supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party tried to remove roadblocks on highways leading to Islamabad.

In the northeastern city of Lahore, police fired tear gas shells to disperse hundreds of PTI members who gathered at different points for the protest march.

Angry protesters pelted stones and threw tear gas shells back at the police before scores of them were taken into custody.

In the northeastern city of Lahore, police fired tear gas shells to disperse hundreds of PTI members who gathered at different points for the protest march.

Angry protesters pelted stones and threw tear gas shells back at the police before scores of them were taken into custody.

Authorities had placed dozens of shipping containers on major roads leading to the capital, about 270km (170 miles) northwest of Lahore.

They have also deployed additional police and paramilitary troops on highways and in Islamabad to stop the rally, with tractor-trailers parked across both lanes of traffic in several areas.

Khan began the march from northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which is governed by his party. The former leader urged supporters, especially young people, to remove the barricades to reach Islamabad “at any cost”.