Chaos and violence was reported from Islamabad as thousands of opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members and supporters descended on D Chowk, ignoring the government ban on protests, to demand the release of former Prime Minister and party founder Imran Khan from his long incarceration.
The protesters, led by Imran’s wife Bushra Bibi, approached Islamabad’s Zero Point amid rising tensions and violent clashes between PTI workers and security forces.
The Pakistan Army has been deployed along with the Pakistani Rangers to secure key government buildings and military troops stationed at D-Chowk.
Tear gas shelling was reported in Aabpara Chowk, leading to closure of businesses, while additional police officers have been brought in from Rawalpindi.
Security forces have been authorised to use extreme measures, including shooting rioters on sight, and the army has the power to impose curfew if necessary, Dawn reported.
As several PTI protesters reached Islamabad’s D-Chowk, intense tear gas shelling was reported by the security forces, amid a stalemate in talks between the government and the opposition party.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has condemned what he termed as an “attack by protesters”, which the interior minister said has resulted in the deaths of at least four security personnel.
Today’s PTI much-touted power show comes after convoys of PTI supporters drove across the country since Sunday to reach the capital.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced the deployment of the army in the city’s Red Zone, following the government’s invocation of Article 245.
D-Chowk, a roundabout in Islamabad’s heavily fortified Red Zone, has long served as a spot for political protests. The junction leads to critical government buildings, including Parliament House, the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Pakistan Secretariat, and the Prime Minister’s Office.
Visuals showed protesters converging about 550 metres away from D-Chowk, where as many as three layers of huge containers could be seen piled atop each other to stall the protesters.
On November 13, Imran Khan had issued a “final call” for nationwide protests on November 24, demanding the restoration of the PTI’s electoral mandate, the release of detained party members and the reversal of the 26th Amendment, which he said has strengthened a “dictatorial regime”.
