ISLAMABAD — On Tuesday, supporters of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan attempted to breach the government’s barricades made up of shipping containers in Islamabad, leading to violent confrontations with police. The demonstrators defied warnings from government officials about potential armed responses, clashing with law enforcement as they demanded Khan’s release from imprisonment.
Tear gas was deployed by police to mitigate the unrest, resulting in at least one fatality amid the chaos. Numerous individuals were injured, including journalists who faced assaults from Khan’s followers. A videographer from a major news agency was surrounded and beaten, suffering head injuries that required hospitalization along with damage to his equipment.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi issued a stern warning to the protesters shortly after midnight, stating that police would use live ammunition if protesters retaliated with gunfire. He asserted, “If they fire bullets again, we will respond in kind.”
Despite being behind bars for over a year and facing over 150 legal cases, many of which Khan’s party believes are politically charged, he has retained a substantial following. Khan was ousted from power in April 2022 following a no-confidence vote and has been incarcerated since his initial conviction for corruption in August 2023.
Khan’s supporters were approximately 10 kilometers (around 6.2 miles) from their goal—the capital’s Red Zone, which contains essential government facilities. The government had proposed an alternative gathering location on the outskirts of the city, but Khan’s party declined the offer.
To thwart potential protests, authorities have detained more than 4,000 supporters of Khan since Friday and instituted suspensions of mobile and internet services across various regions of the country. Following a court ruling that banned rallies in the capital, Naqvi issued a clear ultimatum: anyone disregarding the order would face arrest.
The travel situation has become significantly strained with roads obstructed by shipping containers, making journeys between Islamabad and other cities exceedingly difficult. Educational institutions remain closed as a result of the unrest, and residents are grappling with major disruptions to mobile internet services and messaging applications within the capital.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party leverages social media and platforms like WhatsApp to organize rallies and communicate vital information about their ongoing efforts to advocate for Khan’s release. This turmoil coincides with the official visit of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, further complicating the situation.