Thousands of supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan clashed with security forces in Islamabad late Tuesday as authorities launched a night-time operation to disperse crowds demanding Khan’s release from jail. The protests followed Khan’s call for a march on parliament, defying government-imposed lockdowns and internet blackouts across the country.
Protesters Defy Security Measures
Protesters, led by Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, began their march from Peshawar on Sunday. The convoy covered 180 kilometers (110 miles), with plans for a sit-in at D-Chowk, near Pakistan’s parliament. Despite barricades, tear gas, and blocked roads, demonstrators reached Islamabad’s outskirts by Monday and breached city limits by Tuesday morning.
Authorities responded with tear gas and mass arrests, and reports emerged of violent clashes. Fires erupted along highways, with a police post and at least 22 police vehicles torched, primarily in Punjab province.
Fatalities and Arrests
At least six people, including four security personnel, were killed during the protests on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. Doctors at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences confirmed five deaths earlier, including four security officials and one civilian hit by a vehicle.
By midnight, security forces raided D-Chowk, arresting hundreds of protesters. PTI later called off the demonstrations, citing “government brutality.”
Government and Military Response
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi warned that security forces had authorization to fire back if protesters crossed critical lines and hinted at additional measures, including curfews and military deployment.
“Rangers could open fire, and within five minutes, there would be no protesters left,” Naqvi said, adding that authorities had shown restraint despite facing bullets and violence.
The government has denied excessive use of force, while PTI claims security forces fired live rounds at peaceful protesters, injuring dozens. The situation remains difficult to verify independently due to internet blackouts.
Roots of the Protests
The demonstrations center on demands for Khan’s release and the repeal of a controversial constitutional amendment increasing government control over judicial appointments. Protesters also allege that the February elections were rigged, calling them a “stolen mandate.”
Khan, ousted in a no-confidence vote in 2022, has led a populist campaign against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government. Accusing the military of collusion in his removal, Khan has rallied widespread public support.
The former cricket star turned politician has been jailed for over a year, facing multiple criminal charges, which he denies. His detention has heightened tensions between his supporters and the military, Pakistan’s most influential institution.
Broader Challenges
The protests come at a time of heightened instability in Pakistan, with escalating sectarian violence and separatist militant attacks claiming dozens of lives in recent months. Khan’s imprisonment and the subsequent unrest add another layer of volatility to the country’s fragile political and security landscape.
