Thousands of anti-government protesters blocked highways across Pakistan on Thursday in a bid to oust prime minister Imran Khan, though the disruption fell short of what organisers had planned.
The protests, led by Fazl-ur-Rehman, head of the conservative Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F) party, began with the "Azadi" March on Oct. 27 from Karachi.
Thousands of supporters reached the capital Islamabad on Oct. 31, holding a two-week sit-in on the city's main highway. Rehman ordered them to disperse across the country on Wednesday to cripple key roads, in what he called 'Plan B' to topple Khan over allegations of voter fraud and economic mismanagement - claims he denies.
On Thursday protesters blocked the Grand Trunk Road between Islamabad and Afghanistan's capital Kabul, causing lengthy delays, according to Reuters witnesses.
"Until our leaders announce otherwise we will remain here," said Mufti Owais Aziz, one of several hundred party activists blocking the highway.
Similar disruption was reported in Jacobabad, a city in Sindh linking the province with Balochistan and Punjab, a senior police officer told Reuters.
But authorities were able to divert traffic in several affected areas and there were no reports of protesters occupying other routes like the Karakoram Highway to China, one of nearly a dozen targets announced by the party on Wednesday evening.
The government is confident it can weather the protests, the first such challenge to Khan's leadership since his election on a platform of anti-corruption and economic reform last year.
Fawad Chaudhury, federal minister, told a press conference on Thursday the Islamabad sit-in had been "unsuccessful".
"The religious politics of the country have been damaged by this protest," he said.-Reuters
Recorder Report adds: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) workers, in accordance with "Plan B" of their protest movement, blocked GT Road (N5 Highway) near Chungi No. 26 Bus Stop which caused a severe traffic congestion for commuters going to or coming from Peshawar, Lahore and other parts of the country.
The JUI-F released on Wednesday last a list of highways and roads in Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab that it plans to block as part of its anti-government drive's "Plan B".
Intercity and intra-city traffic between different sectors and blocks of Rawalpindi and Islamabad remained completely jammed on Thursday.
JUI-F Emir Maulana Fazlur Rehman concluded a 13-day long sit-in at H-9, Peshawar Morr, on Wednesday with the initiation call for 'Plan B'. According to the Plan, workers will follow their regional emirs' guidelines and block all major highways.
According to eyewitnesses, GT Road was blocked by JUI-F at Kashmir Highway overhead bridge at Chungi No. 26. Islamabad Traffic Police personnel were seen diverting the outgoing traffic to take a long U-turn via Kashmir Highway-Motorway connecting road to exit the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
On Thursday, Metro Bus Service between Islamabad and Rawalpindi was also restored after keeping shut for about 13 days of 'Azadi March' sit-in. District administration has removed containers from around the 'Azadi March' sit-in venue.
Islamabad's H-9 ground has turned into a dump site. The Capital Development Authority swung into action and started an operation to clean the area.
Till Thursday night, Islamabad's NADRA and Serena Chowks (roundabouts) remained blocked with containers to secure the Red Zone. However, barbed wires and barricades at the Red Zone were removed.
Islamabad capital police placed 400 shipping containers at various places in the capital to block roads to prevent JUI-F workers from entering the Red Zone.
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