Imran Khan supporters breach lockdown in Pakistan’s Islamabad

Supporters seeking the release of Pakistan’s jailed erstwhile Prime Minister Imran Khan broke done a ringing of shipping containers locking down the capital, Islamabad, battled police, and ignored a authorities menace to respond with gunfire.

Police utilized teardrop state to disperse the crowds connected Tuesday, with reports of respective radical killed successful clashes. Dozens much were injured, including journalists who were attacked by Khan’s supporters, who besides bushed a videographer covering the protests for The Associated Press quality bureau and broke his camera.

Shortly aft midnight, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi threatened information forces would respond with unrecorded occurrence if protesters fired weapons astatine them.

“If they again occurrence bullets, the slug volition beryllium responded with the bullet,” helium said.

Khan, who has been successful jail for much than a twelvemonth and faces much than 150 transgression cases, remains popular. His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) enactment says the cases are politically motivated.

Authorities accidental lone the judiciary tin bid the merchandise of Khan, who was ousted successful 2022 done a no-confidence ballot successful parliament. He has been imprisoned since his archetypal condemnation successful a corruption lawsuit successful August 2023 and sentenced successful respective different cases.

Khan’s supporters were astir 10km (6.2 miles) from their destination, the city’s Red Zone wherever cardinal authorities buildings are located. Naqvi said the PTI rejected a authorities connection to rally connected the outskirts of Islamabad.

In a bid to foil the protest, constabulary person arrested more than 4,000 supporters of Khan since Friday and suspended mobile and net services successful immoderate parts of the country. On Thursday, a tribunal prohibited rallies successful the superior and Naqvi said anyone violating the prohibition would beryllium arrested.

Travelling betwixt Islamabad and different cities has go astir intolerable due to the fact that of shipping containers blocking the roads. All acquisition institutions stay closed.

The PTI relies heavy connected societal media to request Khan’s merchandise and uses messaging platforms specified arsenic WhatsApp to stock information, including details of events.