Massive political rallies jam Pakistani capital

ISLAMABAD, Aug 15, (KUNA) -- Massive political rallies by Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) have jammed the Pakistani capital Islamabad in protest to the alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections and to present their demands of electoral and administrative reforms.
The Chairman of PTI, Imran Khan, leading an "Independence March" has yet to arrive in Islamabad from Lahore but a large number of political workers of PTI and PAT have reached the capital for his welcome. The marches starting from eastern Lahore city of Punjab province has faced minor clashes with their political rival parties but police controlled the situation immediately in order to prevent any unpleasant incident.
Earlier a full bench of the Lahore High Court issued a short order, which prohibits "unconstitutional" protests or sit-ins in the country by PTI and PAT. Imran Khan, chairman of the ruling political party in Northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, in a press conference said that the Independence March is according to the constitution and peaceful. He reiterated his stance of holding the march regardless of the court orders.
The government has allowed the marchers of both parties to march on the capital but warned over crossing any red lines and telling the marchers to stay away from the capital's Red Zone area. The security of the Red Zone has been beefed up and put on high alert as the administration has called in extra contingents of the security forces. (end) sbk.ajs