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Court orders arrest of several opposition figures in State TV takeover

Among them are opposition politician Imran Khan and cleric Tahir ul Qadri

The incident occurred during protests demanding the prime minister step down

CNN  — 

A Pakistani court has issued arrest warrants for opposition leader Imran Khan and outspoken cleric Tahir ul Qadri and several others in the brief September takeover of Pakistan State Television headquarters.

Authorities say protesters associated with Khan’s PTI political party and Qadri’s PAT party broke into facility and took over the programming control room, causing the station to temporarily go off the air.

The takeover happened amid mass protests calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over allegations he rigged 2013 elections that allowed his party to take power.

Hundreds of people were injured in clashes during the demonstrations.

Khan’s PTI party has promised additional protests on November 30, unless the government investigates and addresses the vote-rigging allegations.

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Michael Pearson reported and wrote from Atlanta. Sophia Saifi reported from Islamabad.