Wed Nov 27 08:32:46 UTC 2024: ## Pakistani Security Forces Crack Down on Imran Khan Protest, Hundreds Arrested
**Islamabad, Pakistan –** A violent clash between Pakistani security forces and supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan ended in a midnight crackdown on Tuesday, November 26, 2024. The protest, which began Sunday, saw Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party supporters march on Islamabad, culminating in a standoff at D-Chowk, a major intersection near key government buildings.
The protest, demanding Khan’s release from prison, turned violent on Tuesday evening as protestors clashed with law enforcement, resulting in the deaths of six security personnel and injuries to dozens more. Following a tense standoff, security forces launched an operation around midnight, dispersing the protestors and arresting approximately 450 individuals. Authorities anticipate further arrests.
PTI officials described the crackdown as a “massacre” under a “fascist military regime,” alleging the use of live ammunition with the intent to kill. Videos circulating online showed protestors facing tear gas and scrambling over shipping containers used to barricade roads. The party claims hundreds were killed and injured.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, however, claimed that Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, who were leading the march, fled the scene. He also announced the reopening of schools and the restoration of internet and mobile services.
While PTI’s information secretary confirmed Bibi and Gandapur’s safety, Geo News reported that both had returned to Peshawar. Information Minister Atta Tarar alleged the discovery of documents outlining a plan to attack parliament and government buildings.
The protest followed Khan’s November 13th call for nationwide demonstrations, protesting his imprisonment and what he called a stolen mandate. The international community is being urged to condemn the crackdown and the alleged human rights abuses.
First Piper 