No less than one policeman has been killed and greater than 50 injured, Pakistan’s authorities say, as officers attempt to cease hundreds of opposition protesters reaching Islamabad.
Scores of supporters of jailed former PM Imran Khan have been arrested and the capital is beneath lockdown for a second day.
Khan has been detained for greater than a 12 months on varied fees, however stays massively standard regardless of his authorized troubles.
His spouse, Bushra Bibi, instructed supporters on Monday the march would proceed till her husband was freed.
Roads to D Chowk – a key level in central Islamabad close to authorities buildings, the Supreme Court docket and parliament – stay blocked with delivery containers to maintain protesters at bay. The streets are lined with coaches which have carried police from across the nation to the capital.
Paramilitaries in riot gear are lined up, water cannon prepared, however on Monday the ambiance was calm as protesters have been but to succeed in the town.
As information circulated that the protesters have been on the transfer, the police started to shut extra streets and transfer a few of their officers across the metropolis.
Some web companies have been suspended. Colleges and schools have been shut due to fears of violence.
Imran Khan’s social gathering has been protesting for months. The newest rally got here after he issued a “closing name” to his supporters, urging them to remain within the capital till their calls for have been met.
They’re additionally calling for the overturning of election outcomes they are saying have been rigged – a declare disputed by the federal government.
The march, which started on Sunday, has seen police utilizing tear gasoline in opposition to protesters, who’ve responded by pelting officers with stones.
Police instructed the BBC on Monday that 139 individuals had been arrested.
Khan’s spouse is among the leaders of the principle convoy.
“Till Khan involves us, we won’t finish this march,” Bushra Bibi instructed crowds because the rally neared the capital.
“I’ll stand until my final breath and you need to help me. This isn’t nearly my husband however about this nation and its chief,” she mentioned.
Bushra Bibi was sentenced alongside Khan in January, however launched on bail in late October.
Though Khan has now been behind bars for greater than a 12 months, he’s nonetheless the dominant power of Pakistan’s opposition politics.
He was voted out of energy by parliament in 2022 amid stories that he had fallen out with the nation’s highly effective navy.
He denies all the fees in opposition to him, which vary from corruption to instigating violence to getting married to Bushra Bibi illegally.
In February’s common election, his social gathering was banned from standing. Unbiased candidates backed by the PTI unexpectedly gained essentially the most seats – however not sufficient to kind a authorities.
Khan accused the 2 events now in authorities – the PML-N and PPP – of stealing the election. The authorities deny accusations of vote tampering.