PTI Protest in Islamabad Live Updates: 'Around 1,000 held in Pakistan protests for former-PM Imran Khan's release,' says police

Pakistan Protest Live: Nearly 1,000 held in deadly Pakistan protests for ex-PM Khan's release

Pakistani authorities arrested nearly 1,000 supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan who stormed the capital this week to demand his release, the city's police chief said on Wednesday.

Khan's aides alleged hundreds had suffered gunshot wounds during chaotic scenes overnight in the heart of Islamabad as police dispersed protesters led by Khan's wife who had broken through security barricades, without immediately providing evidence. They also said thousands were arrested.

Islamabad's police chief, Ali Rizvi, denied that live ammunition had been used during the operation, which he said was conducted alongside paramilitary forces.

Rizvi said 600 protesters were arrested in Tuesday's operation, bringing the total over the last three days to 954.

Pakistan Protest Live: 71 law enforcers were injured in clashes with protesters over three day, 52 on Tuesday

The search operation is still on in and around Islamabad for those who were armed during the protests. 19 Afghan nationals participating in protests were arrested in Tuesday's clashes.

Pakistan Protest Live: 'Nearly 1,000 arrested in Pakistan over pro-Khan protests,' says police

Pakistan police have arrested nearly 1,000 protesters who marched on the capital demanding the release of jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan, Islamabad's police chief said Wednesday.

Islamabad Police Inspector General Ali Nasir Rizvi told reporters that officers and state paramilitaries "have arrested 954 protesters in three days", adding that "610 of those arrests were made only on Tuesday alone".

Pakistan protest: Pakistan ends lockdown of its capital after Imran Khan supporters are dispersed by police

Roads connecting Pakistan's capital to other parts of the country were reopened on Wednesday, following a four-day lockdown. Security forces had earlier used tear gas and fired warning shots to scatter supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who had marched to Islamabad demanding his release.

"All roads are being reopened, and the demonstrators have been dispersed," Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said.

The protest, led by Khan's wife Bushra Bibi, ended when she and other participants departed in vehicles after police intervention. The confrontation resulted in at least seven fatalities during clashes between protesters and security forces.

Pakistan protest: PTI condemns state-sponsored violence at its rally

The PTI on Wednesday condemned the actions of Pakistani security forces against their demonstrators, characterising it as violent suppression under what they termed an authoritarian military administration.

The political organisation, led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, accused government forces of using excessive force against peaceful demonstrators during their gathering in Islamabad.

The party shared on X: "A massacre has unfolded in Pakistan at the hands of security forces under the brutal, fascist military regime led by the establishment and PMLN's illegal government. The nation is drowning in blood."

The decision follows a crackdown by law enforcement agencies that dispersed protesters from the Red Zone. The chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province Ali Amin Gandapur and Bushra Bibi, the wife of PTI founder Imran Khan, left the protest site during the operation.

The govt said four paramilitary rangers and two policemen were killed late Monday and over 100 security personnel injured in the violence, as thousands of protesters marched to Islamabad to demand Khan's release from prison.

PTI Protest Live: Imran Khan calls more protestors to capital says those who haven't yet joined the protest must also head to D-Chowk

Pakistan's security forces conducted a midnight raid on supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan after they stormed Islamabad, demanding his release. As per media reports, hundreds of people were arrested in the operation.

Pakistan protest: 6 killed in clashes with security forces

At least six people, including four paramilitary soldiers, were killed before the Tuesday night raid was launched.

Local broadcasters Geo News and ARY both reported that a massive raid was launched by security forces amidst a pitch-dark central Islamabad, where lights had been turned off and a barrage of teargas was fired. The protest gathering was almost completely dispersed, they reported.

Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said they planned on staging a sit-in in the red zone until the release of Khan, who has been in jail since August last year.

Pakistani forces launch midnight raid on ex-PM Imran Khan's supporters, local media reports

Pakistan's security forces launched a sweeping midnight raid on supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan who had stormed the capital demanding his release, local media said, with hundreds arrested amidst chaotic scenes.

Thousands of protesters had earlier gathered in the centre of Islamabad after a convoy, led by Khan's wife, broke through several lines of security all the way to the edge of the city's highly fortified red zone.

The red zone, guarded by army soldiers, houses the country's most important offices and buildings, including the parliament and an enclave of foreign missions.

PTI Protest Live: Jailed Former PM Imran Khan calls more protestors to Islamabad

Pakistan's jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan issued a call Tuesday for more supporters to join protests in the capital, after a day of deadly clashes between marchers and security forces.

Khan issued a statement from his jail cell that was posted on social media saying "those who haven't yet joined the protest must also head to D-Chowk", referring to the public square marchers are attempting to occupy.

Islamabad Protest Live: 'We will not back down,' Imran Khan's message to supporters from jail as protests turn violent

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, currently in jail, urged his supporters and Pakistani citizens to continue protesting for their rights. He communicated his message from prison amid ongoing protests and a lockdown in the capital.Khan specifically addressed his supporters, urging continued resistance. “My message to my team is to fight till the end, we will not back down until our demands are met." Read more

PTI Protest Live: 'Bushra Bibi responsible for all losses'

'Former PM Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi responsible for all losses during protests demanding his release,' Pakistan's information minister.

Islamabad Protest Live: Pakistan stocks tumble on fears unrest will hit investment

Shares in Pakistan's benchmark index closed down 3.6% on Tuesday amid clashes in the capital Islamabad between security forces and protesters demanding the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.

The South Asian economy has been on a fragile path to recovery as it navigates a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout. But a surge of unrest since the weekend has raised concerns among analysts and investors about the potential impact on Pakistan's investment potential and foreign inflows.

The benchmark index was up more than 1.5% before turning lower following news of protesters gathering at their intended sit-in spot near Pakistan's parliament, despite blockades and internet disruptions.

Islamabad Protest Live: 'Fight till the end,' Imran Khan's message from jail

PTI Protest Live: 'Two protesters dead, 30 injured'

Two protesters dead, 30 injured during march to Islamabad, says Imran Khan's PTI

Pakistan burns: 6 killed, Army opens fire as Imran Khan supporters lay siege on Islamabad

Islamabad Protest Live: 'Pakistan is reaping what it sowed,' Defence Expert Anil Gaur on Islamabad rally by Imran Khan supporters

In the light of protests in Pakistan by the Tehreek-e-Insaf party headed by the country's former premier Imran Khan, defence expert Anil Gaur has opined that the country is now reaping what it sowed and that the recent demonstrations indicate that democracy cannot be suppressed.
Gaur noted that Imran Khan was removed by various forces, which triggered massive unrest in the country.

"Pakistan is reaping what it sowed. Basically, Imran Khan was removed by... the regime change, George Soros and others. Because Imran Khan was perceived to be going closer to China and Russia, and therefore they wanted him removed. And this is a direct result of that. The way Imran Khan was removed on corruption charges and now he's been exonerated. There is no judgment against him that he has done any act of treason or anything at all. We saw when he was imprisoned, removed, how the public anger against the army, where the corps commander's house was also burned down and others and all took place. Now this is in continuation to that," he said.

Over 4,000 PTI supporters arrested; internet services shut

To prevent the protest, police have detained over 4,000 of Imran Khan's supporters since Friday and have shut down mobile and internet services in certain areas. The government reported that one police officer was killed and nine others critically injured during two days of clashes as protesters neared the capital. A court on Thursday issued a ban on rallies in the capital, and interior minister Naqvi warned that anyone violating the order would be arrested.

We call on Pakistani authorities to respect human rights: US

The US State Department expressed support for the Pakistani people's right to peacefully protest and urged Pakistani authorities to respect human rights and freedoms."We call on protesters to demonstrate peacefully and refrain from violence and, at the same time, we call on Pakistani authorities to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to ensure respect for Pakistan's laws and constitution as they work to maintain law and order," state department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.

State fires tear gas, bullets fired as Khan supporters breach lockdown

Pakistan's security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets at thousands of protesters demanding the release of Khan, who defied a police lockdown to march into the capital."We are deeply frustrated with the government, they do not know how to function," a protestor Kalat Khan told AFP on Monday, adding that the "treatment we are receiving is unjust and cruel."

4 security officers killed by protestors: Govt

Pakistani protesters rallying in the capital on Tuesday to demand the release of ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan killed four members of the nation's security forces, according to the government. Interior minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed in a statement that the members of the paramilitary Rangers force were "killed in the attack" by protesters in central Islamabad.

Pakistan unrest: What sparked protest that killed six security personnel, led to army deployment in Islamabad

Islamabad has become the centre of escalating unrest as thousands of supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan marched into Pakistan's capital, clashing violently with security forces. The protests, driven by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, have led to six deaths, including four security personnel, and prompted the deployment of the Pakistan Army under Article 245 of the Constitution, with shoot-on-sight orders being issued, ARY news reported.Security forces have struggled to contain the protesters, who broke through barricades and flooded the Red Zone—a fortified area housing key government buildings. The demonstrations turned deadly when a vehicle in the convoy rammed into security personnel, killing four Rangers. Read more