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Opposition Party Launches Protests To 'Shut Down' Karachi


Supporters of opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), burn tires during a protest in Karachi on December 12.
Supporters of opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), burn tires during a protest in Karachi on December 12.

A Pakistani opposition party led by former cricket captain Imran Khan is holding a dawn-to-dusk protest at 24 sites in the port city of Karachi on December 12.

Hundreds of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters blocked city highways with burning tires, while women and children staged sit-ins during the one-day protest.

Government offices, public schools and banks were open, but many private businesses and shops were shut.

Some residents grumbled about the protest. A private bus driver told RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal it was hurting business.

PTI demands a probe into alleged fraud during the 2013 election that brought Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to power.

Khan announced on November 30 that his party would stage peaceful protests in Faisalabad, Lahore and Karachi to "shut down" the cities for a day.

Earlier protests in Faisalabad led to clashes between protesters and police.

With reporting by dawn.com
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