ISLAMABAD — Pakistani security forces launched a sweeping crackdown late Tuesday night, arresting hundreds of supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan during a chaotic protest in the capital.
According to Pakistani media reports, the arrests followed a dramatic standoff as a convoy of demonstrators, led by Khan’s wife, broke through multiple security barricades and reached the perimeter of Islamabad’s heavily fortified Red Zone.
The Red Zone, protected by military personnel, houses key government buildings, including Parliament, and several foreign embassies.
Protests turn violent
The protests, which have escalated in recent days, have already claimed six lives, including four soldiers, according to officials.
Local media described a dramatic midnight raid by security forces in central Islamabad, where streetlights had been turned off, and tear gas was fired to disperse the crowds. The demonstration, held near Parliament, was reportedly “almost entirely” dispersed by early Wednesday morning.
Origins of the protests
The unrest began Sunday when supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party launched nationwide demonstrations calling for his release from prison. Khan, the former prime minister and a populist leader, remains a polarizing figure in Pakistan’s volatile political landscape.
In response to the protests, authorities deployed riot police across the capital and blocked major highways into Islamabad with shipping containers. The government also suspended mobile phone and internet services in several areas, further disrupting daily life.
The crackdown marks a new flashpoint in Pakistan’s ongoing political crisis. Khan’s supporters accuse the government of targeting him for political reasons, while authorities say the former prime minister’s actions threaten national stability.
The protests and subsequent government response underscore the mounting tension between Khan’s PTI party and the ruling coalition, raising fears of prolonged unrest in the country.
