Pak bans ex-PM’s protest march
Pakistan's government yesterday banned a planned protest march by ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is demanding fresh elections as a political and economic crises deepens in the South Asian nation, officials said. The ban was announced by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah hours after a policeman was shot and killed during a crackdown on Khan's leaders and supporters, according to a police statement and remarks by Information Minister Marriym Auragzeb at a news briefing. An official of Khan's party had shot and killed the policeman, the minister said. Khan, who was ousted last month, has been leading rallies across the country, blaming the US for conspiring to topple his government. Authorities in Islamabad had started putting up blockades at roads leading to important installations, police said, and heavy contingents from police and paramilitary troops have also been deployed. Khan had urged his supporters to march on Islamabad today. "You try to stop us if you could," Khan told reporters, saying a peaceful protest was his right that could not be denied.
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