Supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Pakistan have temporarily suspended protests demanding his release, following a day of clashes in central Islamabad. Protesters had pledged to remain in the capital until Khan was freed but faced significant police resistance as they advanced toward Democracy Square.
The unrest, which erupted on Sunday, has resulted in the deaths of at least six individuals—four security personnel and two civilians. In response to the violence, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party announced on Wednesday that the demonstrations would be put on hold due to what they termed the “government’s brutality.”
The PTI shared alarming images on social media, alleging that security forces had violently removed a protester from a stack of cargo containers, where he was praying. Video evidence confirmed the incident, showing a paramilitary officer pushing the man off a height equivalent to three stories. The condition of the man remains unknown, and the PTI has called for an investigation into the incident.
Despite reaching the city center, protesters were dispersed by nightfall. Reports indicate that police arrested over 500 PTI supporters during the crackdown. Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, a key figure in the protests, reportedly left the area as tensions escalated.
Eyewitness accounts from a local hospital confirmed the arrival of several bodies with gunshot wounds, although independent verification of these claims is pending. The Pakistani government has stated that security forces did not fire upon protesters.
Islamabad has been under heavy security lockdown, anticipating further clashes as PTI convoys, including those led by Gandapur and Bushra Bibi, converged on the capital. Following a “final” call from Khan for supporters to “fight till the end,” only a fraction of the protesters reached their intended destination near key government buildings.
Khan, imprisoned for over a year on charges he claims are politically motivated, remains a significant figure in Pakistani politics. His party, despite being barred from official participation in elections, emerged as the largest bloc in the February elections. Nonetheless, they failed to secure a majority, as rival parties united to form a new government. The PTI continues to contest the legitimacy of the election results, alleging widespread rigging—a claim the government denies.
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