Page 10 - AT

A10 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 2 November 2019
Pakistani Islamists camp out in Islamabad, urge PM to quit

By MUNIR AHMED ful, but claimed his support-
Associated Press ers had the capability to
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Tens remove Khan from power
of thousands of members by entering his official resi-
of a radical Islamist party dence. He also asked the
camped out in Pakistan's country's military to remain
capital overnight, de- neutral because "we don't
manding Friday the res- want any confrontation
ignation of Prime Minister with the institutions."
Imran Khan over economic Rehman, without naming
hardships the army, said he wants the
Leading a caravan of hun- country's "powerful forces
dreds of cars and buses to end their support for
was Maulana Fazlur Rehm- Khan's government "in the
an, the leader of the Jami- next two days."
at Ulema-e-Islam party. He Almost all of Pakistan's main
began his "Azadi March" political parties have ex-
from the southern city of tended their symbolic sup-
Karachi last Sunday. port of Rehman's rally by
Rehman and his support- joining him in anti-govern-
ers entered Islamabad ment speeches.
at about midnight Thurs- Bilawal Bhutto Zardari,
day. Chanting slogans for leader of the Pakistan Peo-
change and waving party Supporters of a Pakistani radical Islamist party 'Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam' offer prayers during an anti- ple's Party, told one of the
flags, they camped out at government march, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Friday, Nov. 1, 2019. largest rallies in Islamabad's
an open area allocated for Associated Press recent history that they will
them by the government Rehman's seven-party po- Authorities have deployed Khan insists he is taking wage a joint political strug-
amid tight security. litical alliance, Muttahida police and paramilitary measures to improve the gle to force Khan to resign.
The hard-line religious cleric Majlis-e-Amal, could se- forces and put shipping economy. But his political He called Khan a "puppet
who has campaigned for cure only 16 seats in the containers on key roads in opponents want immedi- ruler."
regressive legislation target- 342-member National As- the capital to prevent the ate fresh elections, say- Shahbaz Sharif, who heads
ing women and opposed sembly, the lower house of massive anti-government ing Khan's government is the Pakistan Muslim League
legislation to eliminate of parliament. Khan received procession from reaching creating more problems party, promised in a speech
violence against women 155. the Red Zone, where gov- for the life of the common to improve the country's
denied female journalists Khan on Friday told a gath- ernment offices, parlia- man. economy within six months
access to his march, caus- ering in the northern city of ment and foreign embas- Rehman, in a fiery speech if his party comes into pow-
ing a social media storm. Gilgit that he was not afraid sies are located. to demonstrators Friday er in future after removal of
Rehman also refused to al- of Rehman's threats to his The rally comes two days night vowed to continue Khan's government.
low women members of his government. He said op- after Pakistani businesses his protest until Khan steps Pakistan's opposition says
party to participate in his position parties under the observed a nationwide down. He said Khan is the Khan came into power be-
march. leadership of Rehman had strike against recently im- most incompetent ruler in cause of the support of "un-
Rehman has been accus- entered Islamabad with posed taxes, which the op- the country's political histo- seen forces" — a reference
ing the military of influenc- their supporters to call for position says were imposed ry and that his ouster is nec- to the country's powerful
ing the 2018 parliamentary accountability. as part of the International essary for saving Pakistan military, which has denied
elections that saw Khan's "I will continue to hold the Monetary Fund's $6 billion and saving people from supporting any political
Pakistan's Tehreek-e-Insaf corrupt accountable," he bailout package for Paki- more hardship. party in the 2018 parlia-
party come into power. said. stan. He said his rally was peace- mentary elections.q

Flooding in East Africa affects more than 1 million people

group said Friday. Parts of placed in Beledweyne, have died as a result of
the region are bracing for Somalia. The flooding in about a month of flooding.
a tropical storm, Kyarr, that Somalia, which has caused The torrential rain is uncom-
could worsen an already several deaths, has dis- mon for this time of year,
dire humanitarian situation. placed more than 180,000 he said. Experts have said
The International Rescue people and destroyed the changing weather pat-
Committee said many crops, the aid group Ac- terns have a huge impact
people had been reeling tion Against Hunger said. It because close to 100% of
from an earlier period of se- estimated that the tropical the country's agriculture is
vere drought. Now the rains storm would bring another rain-fed.
in parts of Somalia, South meter of water to parts of In South Sudan, President
Sudan and Kenya are ex- the region. "For many peo- Salva Kiir this week de-
pected for another four to ple, this is the worst flooding clared a state of emergen-
In this photo taken Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019 and released by six weeks. in a lifetime," the group's re- cy in 27 counties because
Medecins Sans Frontieres, areas are submerged by floodwaters "We desperately need help gional director Hajir Maalim of the flooding. The United
between Bor and Pibor, seen from the air, in South Sudan. here from anyone who can said, adding that food is no Nations has said entire
Associated Press help us, things are bad, and longer reaching many peo- communities in some areas
By SAM MEDNICK More than 1 million people help needs to come fast ple with roads and bridges have been submerged,
TOM ODULA in East Africa are affected before it is too late," said submerged. In Kenya, gov- disease is spreading and
Associated Press by flooding after higher Mohamed Hassan, one of ernment spokesman Cyrus access to health services is
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — than normal rainfall, an aid thousands of people dis- Oguna said 38 people limited. q