Protesters from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have reached Islamabad’s D-Chowk, a symbolic site near key government buildings, to demand the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and call for democratic reforms. The demonstrations have led to intense clashes with law enforcement, marked by heavy tear gas shelling and escalating tensions in the capital.
Authorities, under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, have condemned the protests, with the interior minister reporting the deaths of four security personnel in what the government describes as an “attack by miscreants.” Meanwhile, PTI alleges that Rangers fired live ammunition at its supporters, killing two protesters and injuring four others.
Islamabad remains on lockdown, with major highways blocked, mobile and internet services suspended, and over 800 PTI leaders and supporters arrested since Sunday. Security forces have invoked Article 245, deploying the Pakistan Army to maintain order, with orders to use force against “miscreants.”
Also read: Protests Cost Pakistan Rs190 Billion Daily, Says Finance Minister
The protests stem from Imran Khan’s “final call” for demonstrations as he serves a three-year jail term on corruption charges he denies. As talks between PTI and the government stall, the situation grows increasingly volatile, with arrests, injuries, and heightened security measures dominating Islamabad’s streets.
This unfolding crisis underscores the deepening political divide in Pakistan, as calls for justice and reform clash with the government’s resolve to maintain control.
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