Pakistani politician leads anti-gov't shutdown protest

A senior Pakistani politician, Imran Khan, Monday led an anti-gov't rally in the eastern city of Lahore to push for his demand for investigation into what he called fraud in last year's parliamentary polls.

Supporters of Khan's Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf party also blocked roads, disrupting life in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province.

Addressing his thousands of supporters, Imran Khan reiterated his call for formation of a judicial commission to probe into the elections won by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) party.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Monday criticized the anti-gov't protest and said the protests and sit-ins politics is aimed at creating hurdles in the way of development of the country.

"My government has started the process of development and the protesting parties cannot stop the process," Nawaz Sharif told reporters near the capital Islamabad.

Information Minister Pervez Rashid says that four people died on the way to hospitals because of the closure of roads.

The protest was part of PTI's plan to shutdown major cities to mount pressure on the government.

Imran Khan announced he would continue and expand his protest plan if the government does not accept his demands.

"Nawaz Sharif it is you who brought us on roads. Come back to table talks and form a judicial commission soon," the PTI chief said.

The government resumed talks with PTI party on Sunday and both sides exchanged proposals to find out a political solution to the crisis. The two sides will hold next round on Tuesday.

PTI has, however, insists it will continue protest until the government forms a judicial commission for probe into the alleged rigging in the elections.

A cabinet minister Saad Rafiq advised Imran Khan to make his demand through the parliament.

PTI's members of the National Assembly have already submitted resignations from assembly seats as part of the anti-gov't protest strategy.

"We will make it impossible for you to govern if you block justice to us," Imran Khan warned.

He said PTI has been protesting for four months but the government has not yet accepted his demand.

PTI activists blocked all main roads in the city early morning and the blockade continued until evening. The blockade caused problems for the people to reach offices in time. Traffic was thin and attendance in educational institution was also affected.