Monday, September 1, 2014

Pakistan state TV back on air after protesters storm offices

Pakistan's national television channel is back on air after security forces removed anti-government protesters from its headquarters in Islamabad.
Troops were sent in to regain control from demonstrators who had forced their way into the PTV offices.
Earlier, fresh clashes erupted between protesters and police in the capital.
Protesters loyal to opposition leader Imran Khan and cleric Tahirul Qadri want PM Nawaz Sharif to resign. He denies corruption and electoral fraud.
Both Mr Khan and Mr Qadri have urged calm and asked their supporters to co-operate with the army.
A number of policemen are reported to have been injured in Monday's violence as thousands of demonstrators - some wielding batons and throwing stones - moved on the main building housing Pakistan's federal bureaucracy and Prime Minister's House.
Riot police were forced to retreat from the main road in front of parliament, Constitution Avenue.
Protesters attacked vehicles and set fire to shipping containers placed on the street as roadblocks.
On Sunday night protesters used trucks to smash through the outer fence of the parliament building, even though the building was guarded by troops, the BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad reports.
Demonstrators have been taking part in a sit-in in the centre of the capital for two weeks.

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