Pakistan police clash with Imran Khan supporters heading to Islamabad
At least one police officer has been killed and over 50 injured, according to Pakistani authorities, as officials work to prevent thousands of opposition protesters from reaching Islamabad.
Numerous supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan have been arrested, and the capital remains under lockdown for a second consecutive day.
Khan, who has been in detention for over a year on various charges, continues to enjoy widespread popularity despite his legal challenges. His wife, Bushra Bibi, urged supporters on Monday to persist with the march until he is released.
Roads leading to D-Chowk, a crucial area in central Islamabad near government buildings, the Supreme Court, and parliament, have been barricaded with shipping containers to block protesters. Streets are lined with buses carrying police reinforcements from across the country.
Paramilitary forces in riot gear, supported by water cannons, are stationed in the capital. However, as of Monday, the atmosphere remained calm as protesters had not yet entered the city.
As reports emerged of protesters advancing, police began closing additional streets and redeploying officers throughout Islamabad.
Internet services have been partially suspended, and schools and colleges are closed due to fears of potential violence.
Imran Khan’s party has been protesting for months. The latest rally came after he issued a “final call” to his supporters, urging them to stay in the capital until their demands were met.
They are also calling for the overturning of election results they say were rigged – a claim disputed by the government.
The march, which began on Sunday, has seen police using tear gas against protesters, who have responded by pelting officers with stones.
Police told the BBC on Monday that 139 people had been arrested.
Khan’s wife is one of the leaders of the main convoy.
“Until Khan comes to us, we will not end this march,” Bushra Bibi told crowds as the rally neared the capital.
“I will stand till my last breath and you have to support me. This is not just about my husband but about this country and its leader,” she said.
Bushra Bibi was sentenced alongside Khan in January, but released on bail in late October.
Although Khan has now been behind bars for more than a year, he is still the dominant force of Pakistan’s opposition politics.
He was voted out of power by parliament in 2022 amid reports that he had fallen out with the country’s powerful military.
He denies all the charges against him, which range from corruption to instigating violence to getting married to Bushra Bibi illegally.
In February’s general election, his party was banned from standing. Independent candidates backed by the PTI unexpectedly won the most seats – but not enough to form a government.
Khan accused the two parties now in government – the PML-N and PPP – of stealing the election. The authorities deny accusations of vote tampering.
