At least four killed as ex-Pakistan PM Khan’s supporters enter Islamabad

Thousands clash with constabulary arsenic they unit their mode into superior to request jailed ex-prime minister’s release.

Several members of Pakistan’s information forces are reported to person been killed arsenic supporters of jailed erstwhile Prime Minister Imran Khan forced their mode into the capital, Islamabad.

Four information work unit person been killed, the authorities said connected Tuesday, arsenic thousands defied a constabulary lockdown, overcoming blockades and teardrop state to participate the city. Supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) enactment person been demanding the ex-PM’s merchandise up of a tribunal proceeding connected coercion charges.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s bureau said successful a connection that 4 members of the information services were killed erstwhile they were rammed by a vehicle.

As protesters battled information forces and ignored a authorities menace to respond with gunfire, Sharif condemned the violence, saying, “It is not a peaceful protest. It is extremism.”

The march into Islamabad follows two days of clashes arsenic protesters approached the capital. The metropolis medication had imposed a two-month prohibition connected nationalist gatherings past week.

Reports regarding the fig of casualties vary. As good arsenic the 4 information personnel, unconfirmed reports accidental that a civilian was besides killed during the ramming and that a policeman has besides died successful a abstracted incident.

Policemen occurrence teardrop state shells to disperse PTI supporters during a protestation successful Islamabad [Aamir Qureshi/AFP]

Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder, reporting from Islamabad, called the concern “extremely tense”.

“The protesters are present wrong the city. That is simply a constituent of large interest aft the reports that the constabulary were to crush the protests,” helium said.

Hyder noted contradictory reports astir the deaths.

“The authorities is saying that it was the protesters who ran implicit those information forces personnel, but witnesses said that it was the information forces conveyance speeding distant successful panic erstwhile the protesters were closing in,” helium said.

Khan, who was ousted successful 2022 done a no-confidence vote, has been successful jailhouse for much than a twelvemonth pursuing his condemnation successful a corruption lawsuit and faces much than 150 transgression cases.

His PTI enactment says the cases are politically motivated, portion authorities accidental lone the courts tin bid his release.

Police person arrested much than 4,000 Khan supporters since Friday and suspended mobile and net services successful immoderate parts of the country. All acquisition institutions stay closed.

On Thursday, a tribunal prohibited rallies successful the capital, and authorities said anyone violating the prohibition would beryllium arrested.

Travel betwixt Islamabad and different cities has go astir impossible, with the authorities blocking roads with shipping containers. However, the protesters pushed them speech connected Tuesday.

Source

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Al Jazeera and quality agencies