A capital on lockdown, internet blackouts and protesters clashing …

Wed Nov 27 09:22:00 UTC 2024: ## Pakistan Security Forces Crack Down on Imran Khan Protests, Leaving Casualties

**ISLAMABAD, Pakistan** – Thousands of supporters of Pakistan’s jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan clashed with security forces in Islamabad on Tuesday, resulting in multiple deaths and hundreds of arrests. The protests, demanding Khan’s release and alleging a rigged election, followed a massive march from Peshawar that defied a government security lockdown, internet blackouts, and roadblocks.

Khan’s supporters, led by his wife and a provincial chief minister, initially amassed on the outskirts of Islamabad. Despite warnings from Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi that entering the city’s high-security red zone would result in forceful dispersal, protesters breached barricades and advanced towards D-Chowk, a square near parliament.

Violent clashes ensued, with reports of tear gas being fired, police vehicles torched, and at least six deaths – including four security officials. Doctors reported injuries and fatalities sustained by a car ramming into protesters. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, initially calling for a sit-in, later announced a suspension of protests citing government brutality.

Following the clashes, security forces launched a nighttime raid, arresting hundreds of protesters. While the government claimed restraint, citing bullet wounds suffered by security personnel, the PTI accused authorities of using excessive force, claiming dozens of injuries among its supporters. Independent verification of claims from both sides remains difficult due to ongoing communication disruptions.

The protests highlight the deep political divisions in Pakistan, fueled by Khan’s imprisonment and accusations of a manipulated election. Khan, facing multiple criminal charges, remains a powerful figure, and his supporters’ actions reflect ongoing tensions between his followers and the current government. The clashes also occurred amidst a backdrop of rising sectarian violence and separatist attacks across the country.