Thousands of people came down to Islamabad on Monday to demand the release of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. The protest procession gradually turned into a clash. Many people were injured in the clashes with the police and security forces. 6 people including security personnel have been killed so far.
Thousands of PTI supporters broke the police barricade and entered the capital Islamabad on Tuesday. Soon after they entered, a massive clash started with the police. The security forces failed to control the situation by using tear gas.
Al Jazeera reported that protesters clashed with security forces in Islamabad after the army was ordered to "shoot on sight". Several people including journalists were injured in this incident. Earlier, barricades were created with shipping containers on the entrance roads to Islamabad, but Imran Khan's supporters entered the capital without paying attention to them.
On Tuesday night, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi warned protesters that if protesters use weapons to open fire, the security forces will also fire back. "If they fire again, the fire will be answered with fire," he said.
Pakistani media has mostly stopped filming and filming the protests. They are now mainly reporting on safety measures and empty roads.
US media NPR reported that Imran Khan's supporters are staying about 10 kilometers away from Islamabad's red zone—where important government buildings are located. Interior Minister Naqvi said Imran Khan's party was offered to hold a rally on the outskirts of the city, but they rejected it.
Khan's wife Bushra Bibi, wife of Imran Khan, one of the leaders of the movement, asked the protesters to proceed peacefully towards the Red Zone. He further said, 'If Khan is not released, a new action plan will be announced for the protesters.' At this time, he urged the government not to harm the protesters.
Meanwhile, the police have arrested more than 4,000 PTI leaders and activists since last Friday and suspended mobile and internet services in some parts of the country to quell the protests. On Thursday, the Islamabad High Court ruled that gatherings in the capital had been banned. Interior Minister Naqvi said that anyone who violates this ban will be arrested.
Roads blocked by shipping containers have made travel between Islamabad and other cities virtually impossible. All educational institutions have been closed. Messaging platforms are experiencing severe disruption as mobile internet services are down in the capital.
PTI has been campaigning for Imran Khan's release on social media and using messaging platforms like WhatsApp to share information about the movement and even details of incidents. Banned X platform in Pakistan can no longer be used even with VPN.
It is to be noted that this violence is happening at a time when the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko is on a visit to Pakistan.
Imran Khan accused in more than 150 cases has been in jail for more than a year. He is still the country's most popular leader. His party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) says the cases are politically motivated. Not only because of Imran Khan's imprisonment, but also because of inflation, the people of the country are also upset.