PAKISTAN: Protesters in Lahore demand release of Imran Khan

Hundreds of Pakistanis marched through the streets of Lahore carrying banners and posters of Imran Khan to protest against the detention of the opposition leader. Khan is on hunger strike in prison in protest of the emergency rule enforced in Pakistan. Hundreds of Islamist supporters demonstrated in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore on Tuesday (November 20), to show solidarity with detained opposition politician Imran Khan and denounce the arrests of his supporters. Prominent Pakistani opposition politician Imran Khan has begun a hunger strike in jail to protest against the imposition of emergency rule in his country, his spokesman said on Monday (November 19). Holding up placards and wearing veils, more than two hundred women protested outside 'Mansoora', the headquarters and stronghold of Pakistan's largest Islamic party Jamat-e-Islami. One placard read, 'We denounce police violence against women supporters of Imran Khan'. Several of Khan's party workers and supporters including women were arrested when they tried to stage protests in Lahore against Musharraf's emergency rule last week. Jamat-e-Islami and Khan's Tehreek-e-Insaf are part of 'The All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM), which consists of major opposition parties. But ex-premier Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is not a part of it. A media co-ordinator of Khan's party said that Khan will be on hunger strike until the judiciary is restored: "Imran Khan is demanding one thing that is restoration of judges who have been sacked through illegal orders.'' Sheikh Mujeebullah said. Pakistani police arrested the former cricketer-turned-politician Khan last week after he emerged from hiding to lead a student protest against the Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf, who declared emergency rule on November As part of Musharraf's emergency rule he has suspended the constitution, detained judges who do not support him, rounded up opponents and placed restrictions on the media.

ITN Source | November 21, 2007

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