Anti-government protesters call off Islamabad sit-in

KARACHI, Pakistan

Thousands of anti-government protesters sitting in capital Islamabad to seek resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan for over two weeks, called off their sit-in on Wednesday.

The development followed blockade of some major highways, including a key NATO supply route to neighboring Afghanistan by protesters in line with what they called "Plan B" or the second round of their protest against the government.

Footage aired on local broadcaster Geo News showed the protesters wrapping up their luggage after their leader and former opposition leader, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman asked them to "get back to home peacefully," and join the second round of the protest starting from Nov. 14.

Rehman in his address on Wednesday once again threatened to block several main highways, which would disconnect major cities from rest of the country, as the government and the opposition failed to break a lingering deadlock over the latter’s demand for prime minister’s resignation, and holding of fresh elections.

"Our workers have already taken to the streets in various parts of the country.

"I want to tell them we all are going to join them," Fazl said urging his supporters to remain peaceful.

Hundreds of protesters, Geo TV reported, blocked Quetta-Chaman highway, which connects southwestern Balochistan province with Afghanistan, for several hours.

The highway also serves as one of the two supply routes for NATO forces based in the war-torn country.

The protesters plan to block Silk Road that connects northern Pakistan with China, and other major highways from Thursday on if the government does not bow to their demands.

The government, for its part, still has time, and again rejected the protesters' demand for Khan’s resignation.

The protesters converged on the capital last month in a massive show against Khan, seeking his resignation over alleged rigging in 2018 general elections, and a crumbling economy.

The march, led by religious political party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Rehman, set off from Karachi on Oct. 27, and arrived in Islamabad on Nov. 2.

Main opposition parties -- center-right Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) of three-time premier Nawaz Sharif, and center-left Pakistan People’s Party -- of the slain premier Benazir Bhutto also supported the sit-in.

Earlier, the government allowed marchers to enter the capital, but warned of using force if they move to the Red Zone, a high security zone where residences of the president, prime minister, and foreign ambassadors are located.

Khan maintains he will not bow to the pressure and drop corruption charges against top opposition politicians of the country.

His government has been criticized for a crackdown on opposition with key figures are either in jail or embroiled in corruption cases.