Pakistani anti-riot police and paramilitary forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets Saturday to disperse thousands of supporters of a radical cleric who had blocked a key road into the capital for two weeks. The chaotic scenes illustrated the clout of hard-line Islamist leaders in Pakistan and authorities’ inability to maintain security in the face of mob action. The government called the change a clerical error and Parliament reversed it, but Rizvi’s supporters seized on the issue and demanded the resignation of the federal law minister. Analysts said the government was also in a difficult position because most of Rizvi’s supporters hail from the state of Punjab, the stronghold of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s party. Rizvi’s supporters blocked major roads in other cities of Punjab as well.

Source: Los Angeles Times November 25, 2017 17:15 UTC