Emeutes du gaz à Islamabad et Rawalpindi- 3 janvier 2012

Transporters’ strike: Police, protesters battle it out for five hours

tribune.com.pk

January 4, 2012

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI:

Protests against gas shortage continued on Tuesday, disrupting traffic between the twin cities. Skirmishes between protesters and police continued at Faizabad, blocking the Islamabad Expressway. Attendance at educational institutes and government offices also remained thin on the second day of protests.

An angry mob was engaged with the riot police for over five hours on the highway, which was closed for all forms of traffic. The call for strike against the price hike and gas shortage was given by transporters association.

The Industrial Area police charged CNG Association President Ghiyas Paracha, Muttahida Transport Action Committee (MTAC) President Malik Sultan Awan, three other transport association officials and 150 protesters for provoking and leading the protests. The police arrested at least 24 protesters. They were charged for burning a Suzuki Bolan (GV-104) on the Islamabad Highway on the first day of protests.

Angry protesters pelted riot police with stones and damaged private vehicles.

The violent protests were set off by the people who could not get to work in the morning after arriving at bus stops. Later, many young people from nearby areas joined in and blocked the road. Read more…