At least one police officer has been killed and more than 50 injured, according to Pakistan’s authorities, as they attempt to prevent thousands of opposition protesters from reaching Islamabad.
Supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan have been staging protests for months, and many have been arrested as the capital remains under lockdown for a second consecutive day. Khan has been detained for over a year on various charges but remains immensely popular despite his ongoing legal battles.
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On Monday, Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, told the crowd that the march would continue until her husband was released.
Roads leading to D Chowk, a central location in Islamabad near key government buildings, the Supreme Court, and Parliament, are blocked by shipping containers to prevent protesters from reaching their destination. The streets are also lined with coaches transporting police officers from across the country.
Paramilitary forces in riot gear are on standby, with water cannons prepared, but the situation remained calm on Monday as protesters had yet to enter the city. As news spread that the march was advancing, authorities closed off more streets and repositioned officers throughout the capital.
Some internet services have been suspended, and schools and colleges have been closed out of concerns for safety.
The protests, led by Khan’s party, have escalated following his call for a “final march” to pressure the government into meeting their demands. The protesters are also calling for the annulment of election results, which they claim were rigged—a charge the government denies.
The march, which began on Sunday, has seen confrontations between police and protesters, with officers using tear gas as protesters threw stones in response. On Monday, police reported that 139 people had been arrested.
Bushra Bibi, one of the rally’s main leaders, addressed the crowd, stating, “We will not end this march until Khan comes to us. I will stand until my last breath, and you must support me. This is not just about my husband, but about the future of our country and its leadership.”
Bushra Bibi, who was sentenced alongside Khan in January but released on bail in October, has become a key figure in the protests.
Despite being in prison for over a year, Khan remains the dominant figure in Pakistan’s opposition politics. He was ousted from power in 2022 after a falling out with the military, and he denies all the charges against him, including corruption, inciting violence, and marrying Bushra Bibi unlawfully.
In February’s general election, Khan’s party was banned from running, but independent candidates backed by his party won the most seats—though not enough to form a government. Khan has accused the current ruling parties, the PML-N and PPP, of election fraud, a claim the authorities deny.
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