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The game between Pakistan Shaheen's and Sri Lanka A has been rescheduled. (FILE)The game between Pakistan Shaheens and Sri Lanka A has been postponed due to political activity in Islamabad. The last two matches of the tour between the sides are scheduled to be played on Wednesday and Friday however, on Pakistan Cricket Board’s consultation with Sri Lankan cricket the games have been called off and a new date will be announced soon.
The decision came as Islamabad has been in the midst of violence with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) clashing with law enforcement agencies. The protestors marched to the capital with PTI founder Imran Khan’s wife and other leaders demanding the release of Imran.
Earlier in the week, the Interior Ministry of Pakistan invoked Article 245 which is to take assistance from the military to maintain the peace in the country. The law also permits to imposition of a curfew if and when needed.
In the protest which began on Sunday, six people, including four paramilitary personnel and two civilians, have died, according to the Pakistani authorities. On Tuesday, thousands of protesters from PTI marched towards central Islamabad and demanded the release of their leader.
The crackdown by the Pakistan administration on the protesters via the tear gas firing pushed them back, when they were marching towards Democracy Square and arrests of nearly 1,000 people dispersed the crowd, and the party called off the movement.
Khan’s aides claimed that hundreds had sustained gunshot wounds during chaotic scenes overnight in central Islamabad as police dispersed protesters, led by Khan’s wife, who had broken through security barricades, news agency Reuters reported.
They did not provide immediate evidence to support the claim but added that thousands had been arrested.
Islamabad’s police chief, Ali Rizvi, denied that live ammunition was used during the operation, which was carried out along with paramilitary forces. Rizvi said 600 protesters were arrested in Tuesday’s operation, bringing the total number of arrests over the last three days to 954.
He added that weapons, including automatic rifles and tear gas guns, were seized from the protest site, where thousands had gathered and were cleared within a few hours.
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