EPASupporters of jailed former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan have been pushed again by safety forces after reaching the guts of the heavily-barricaded capital earlier on Tuesday.
The convoy of opposition protesters has been marching in the direction of Islamabad’s D Chowk – or Democracy Sq. – for the reason that weekend, demanding Khan’s launch, amongst different issues.
Not less than six individuals had been killed – 4 paramilitary troopers, and two protesters – because the march moved via the town, clashing with safety forces at factors.
A variety of protesters did make it so far as D Chowk nonetheless, and had been seen scrambling over delivery containers positioned to dam their method.
However hours after protesters reached the sq., safety forces efficiently cleared the realm. As darkness fell, the lights had been switched off – solely cops and paramilitary troopers left behind.
A police officer close by mentioned that some protesters had made it past the three-tier stack of delivery containers, however just a few hundred metres earlier than they had been pushed again.
Nevertheless, hundreds of Khan supporters stay within the space – to maintain heat within the biting chilly, protesters have began burning paper and different supplies inside garbage bins. Many have even resorted to burning grass and bushes on the footpaths and greenbelts, the place individuals are gathered.
Muhammad Shahid, who got here together with his household all the way in which from Punjab province, says they’re right here due to Imran Khan’s message: “He says we should struggle for our rights.”
He provides: “We’re right here to face up for our elementary rights. Imran Khan has been illegally arrested, and we’ll struggle to make our voices heard.”
EPAKhan, who has been in jail for greater than a yr on costs he says are politically motivated, has urged his supporters not to surrender – encouraging individuals to proceed in the direction of D Chowk.
“My message to my group is to struggle until the tip, we is not going to again down,” the previous prime minister mentioned on X.
Even from behind bars, the previous cricket star has proved a robust participant in Pakistan politics. Throughout elections in February, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) get together, which had been banned from standing and was pressured to run candidates as independents, emerged as the one largest bloc.
Nevertheless, they fell in need of the bulk and their rivals united to type a brand new authorities.
In consequence, protesters are additionally calling for the overturning of election outcomes they are saying had been rigged – a declare disputed by the federal government.
It was Khan who known as on his supporters to take to the streets on the weekend, issuing a “last name” and asking them to remain within the capital till their calls for are met.
The federal government – which had already launched a ban on public gatherings -responded by blocking Islamabad’s streets with delivery containers, and bussing in police from throughout the nation.
Restrictions additionally seem to have been introduced in on some web companies, whereas colleges and schools have been shut due to fears of violence.
Pakistan’s inside minister mentioned the protesters had been supplied another venue for his or her protest however had refused.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who blamed the protesters for the deaths of 4 troopers on Tuesday, dismissed the march as “extremism”.
“These disruptive components don’t search revolution however bloodshed,” he mentioned in an announcement.
Zulfikar Bukhari, spokesman for Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) get together, instructed information company Reuters a minimum of two protesters had been killed – one shot, and one run over by a automobile.
Not less than 50 individuals have been injured.
Extra reporting by Farhat Javed, Malik Mudassir and Fakhir Munir in Islamabad