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Protesters reach Islamabad

August 16, 2014

Two loosely-aligned groups of protesters have arrived in the Pakistani capital to call for the end of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's government. Participants have threatened to camp out until their demands are met.

https://p.dw.com/p/1CvdC
Pakistani supporters of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan wave their party flags as they gather during a protest march against the country's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz-led government in Islamabad on August 16, 2014. AFP PHOTO / AAMIR QURESHI/AFP/Getty Images
Image: AAMIR QURESHI/AFP/Getty Images

Protesters rallied in Islamabad on Saturday after the arrival of two groups of marchers opposed to the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Thousands of people galvanized by former cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan arrived late on Friday, vowing to remain camped out there until their demands for Sharif to stand down and for electoral reform are met.

A separate group of protesters, led by the anti-Taliban cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri, arrived in Islamabad just before midnight.

Supporters welcomed both groups as they entered the city. The "long march" - in reality a motorized cavalcade - from Lahore on Thursday traveled some 300 kilometers (190 miles) and remained on the road some 36 hours.

Supporters of Khan's PakistanTehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party, which came third in last year's election, turned out to welcome the convoy as it traveled along the Grand Trunk Road, which unites Lahore and Islamabad.

A report earlier on Friday said there were clashes between members of the Khan march and supporters of Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-N in the city of Gujranwala, some 200 kilometers from Islamabad.

Qadri was expected to give a speech on Saturday, demanding that Sharif - who is accused of electoral fraud - be removed from office and arrested.

Sharif - who won power in May last year - has said he is willing to meet his opponents, but there has been no indication that he is prepared to stand down.

rc/av (AFP, AP, Reuters)