Tue Nov 26 15:08:03 UTC 2024: ## Deadly Clashes Erupt in Islamabad as Imran Khan Supporters Storm Capital

**ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (AP) —** At least six people are dead and scores more injured following violent clashes in Islamabad on Tuesday between supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan and Pakistani security forces. Thousands of Khan’s supporters, defying a government ban on rallies and roadblocks, breached security barriers and stormed the capital’s Red Zone, the area housing key government buildings and the residence of visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

The protests, which began Sunday, demand the release of Khan, who was ousted in 2022 and has been jailed since August 2023 on corruption charges his party alleges are politically motivated. Security forces responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and warning shots, but protesters hurled stones and even rammed a vehicle into security personnel, resulting in the deaths of four security officers and one civilian. A separate police officer also died. Journalists covering the protests were also targeted, with one AP videographer sustaining head injuries after being attacked by demonstrators.

Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, led a heavily guarded convoy toward the Red Zone, while thousands of supporters, many waving flags of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, converged on D-Chowk square. Despite the heavy security presence, including the deployment of the Pakistani army, protesters successfully reached their target by Tuesday afternoon.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi issued a stark warning, threatening live fire if protesters used weapons against security forces. Information Minister Atta Tarar accused Bushra Bibi of seeking “bloodshed,” claiming the government had offered the party an alternative rally location outside the city, which was rejected.

The government’s crackdown included the arrest of over 4,000 Khan supporters since Friday, suspension of mobile and internet services in some areas, and a ban on the X platform. The political unrest has severely impacted the Pakistani economy, with the stock exchange losing over $1.7 billion on Tuesday. The widespread disruption also includes the closure of educational institutions and severely restricted travel to and from Islamabad. The situation remains tense, with the government vowing a harsh response to the violence.

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