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Seven killed, over 300 injured as protesters clash with police in Pakistan

By FnF Desk | PUBLISHED: 31, Aug 2014, 12:49 pm IST | UPDATED: 31, Aug 2014, 12:59 pm IST

Seven killed, over 300 injured as protesters clash with police in Pakistan Islamabad: Demanding immediate resignation of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, thousands of protesters led by Imran Khan and Tahir—ul—Qadri had running battles with police and paramilitary forces here in the wee hours on Sunday, resulting in injuries to more than 300 people.

The clashes started after orders by  Khan and Qadri to shift their protest venue to the official residence of Mr. Sharif to force him resign immediately.

At least 308 injured were brought to Polyclinic and Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, the two premier state—run hospitals, a Pakistani channel Duniya TV reported.

Hundreds of protesters entered the lawn of parliament but they were stopped at the main entrance of the building where army soldiers were deployed.

Khan and Qadri are with protesters and exhorting their supporters to force their way towards the PM House.

Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said that protesters had committed a crime by attacking parliament which is a “symbol of democracy."

The clashes were continuing as police pushed them back with intense shelling of tear gas and rubber bullets.

The situation was very tense in the capital as a number of demonstrators refused to budge from the protest site. Both the leaders are agitating since August 14 against alleged rigging during the last year general elections.

Thousands of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed blocking all the roads leading to the PM residence.

Khan asked his supporters to remain peaceful and asked law enforcement agencies not to stop the agitators.

A late night government announcement categorically ruled out Sharif’s resignation.

Former President Pervez Musharraf condemned the police action on his Twitter and Facebook account, saying that he was "appalled to witness the attack by the Government on unarmed and peaceful protestors that include women and children and I vehemently condemn it. Resorting to force will not suppress the movement for change the people of Pakistan have emd upon. It is time the Nawaz government should accept that it has lost the moral authority to govern".

 As Pakistan protests turn violent with protesters armed with hammers and cutters clashing with police, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has suggested that the crowd contains terrorists, including women who want to occupy govt buildings, the AFP reported.

"There are 1,600 to 2,000 trained terrorists. They have 200 women who are trained in the use of firearms and they have come with the intention of occupying state buildings," Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told.