ISLAMABAD – Thousands of supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan clashed with police and paramilitary forces this week as they marched toward Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad. The protesters, responding to Khan’s call for a sit-in protest, broke through barricades in their bid to reach a key rallying site near the parliament.
Protesters’ Demands
The demonstrators, largely from Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, are calling for the release of Khan and other detained party leaders. Khan, imprisoned on corruption charges since August 2023, has accused the current government of engineering rigged general elections earlier this year.
Protesters, including Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, have vowed to stage a “do or die” sit-in at the capital’s iconic roundabout near the parliament—a popular site for political protests in Pakistan’s turbulent history.
Government Response
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s administration has refused to entertain the protesters’ demands. Authorities have fortified Islamabad with shipping containers and deployed police and paramilitary forces in riot gear. Mobile internet services have been suspended, schools closed, and public gatherings banned to maintain order.
Violence on the Streets
Clashes erupted over the weekend as protesters attempted to breach Islamabad’s fortified red zone, resulting in injuries on both sides. Government officials confirmed that four people, including paramilitary personnel, died during the confrontations. Protesters also allegedly ran over security personnel with vehicles.
Historical Context
The march echoes Pakistan’s history of political unrest, often marked by large-scale protests. Imran Khan himself led a 126-day sit-in against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government in 2014.
This latest march follows a PTI-led rally in October that also saw violent clashes with police, leaving one officer dead. As tensions rise, Islamabad braces for further unrest as PTI supporters push forward with their demands.