Tight Security Measures Amid Imran Khan Supporters' March
A significant march by supporters of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan reached the outskirts of Islamabad on Monday, as they demanded his release from prison. Khan, who has been incarcerated for over a year and faces more than 150 criminal cases, remains a popular figure in Pakistan. His political party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), claims that the charges against him are politically motivated.
In response to the planned protest, authorities imposed a strict security lockdown in Islamabad, blocking highways with shipping containers and deploying large numbers of police and paramilitary forces equipped with riot gear. The government banned all public gatherings in the capital, leading to heightened tensions between law enforcement and protesters. Reports indicate that around 4,000 protesters, including five parliamentarians, were arrested in the eastern province of Punjab as part of the crackdown.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that police used tear gas and live ammunition against protesters, leading to violent clashes. Shaukat Yousafzai, an aide to Khan, accused the government of employing violent tactics to suppress the demonstration. The situation escalated as mutual tear gas firing occurred between police and PTI members on the highway separating Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Khan has labeled this protest as a
},{
final call,
to demand his release, following a series of protests since his imprisonment in August 2023. His previous protest in early October resulted in violence, with one policeman killed and numerous injuries reported on both sides.
Khan's political journey has been tumultuous since his ousting from power in 2022, facing various charges including corruption and incitement to violence, all of which he and his party vehemently deny. The ongoing unrest reflects the deepening political divide in Pakistan, as Khan's supporters continue to rally for his freedom amid a backdrop of increasing government repression.
