Supporters of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan rallied in Islamabad demanding his release, despite a ban on protests. The police cracked down on the demonstrators, blocking roads, cutting off mobile internet, and firing tear gas. The protestors claimed that Ali Amin Gandapur, a party leader from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, had been abducted and unlawfully detained, although this could not be verified independently.
Gandapur, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, led thousands of protesters camped on the Islamabad-Peshwar highway. The PTI party, facing a crackdown from authorities, organized the protests, which they said would last only one day. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi accused the protesters of clashing with police, resulting in injuries to over 80 officers. Naqvi had urged the PTI to delay the gathering due to upcoming diplomatic engagements.
Amnesty International criticized the restrictions on communication and movement, calling it a worrying clampdown on the right to protest in Pakistan. The PTI alleges widespread vote-tampering in the February elections, where Khan was barred from standing. Several PTI lawmakers have been arrested, and Khan, although cleared of some charges, remains in jail facing trial in other cases. The 72-year-old Khan was deposed as prime minister in 2022 after a no-confidence vote and is seen as a threat by the powerful military establishment.
The protesters, undeterred by the crackdown, continue to demand Khan’s release and raise concerns about the fairness of elections in Pakistan. The situation remains tense as the government faces pressure from both domestic and international observers regarding the handling of the protests and the treatment of opposition party members.
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