Pakistan Lockdown Defied: Thousands Demand Khan's Freedom

Pakistan Authorities Crack Down on Protests Demanding Khan's Release

“We wouldn't let them storm the capital.” 

Pakistan is witnessing widespread protests as supporters of Imran Khan demand his release from prison, prompting authorities to impose a strict lockdown.

Thousands of supporters of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan have bravely defied a government-imposed lockdown and widespread arrests to converge on the capital city of Islamabad, demanding Khan's release from prison. Despite the lockdown, hundreds of protesters have already reached the outskirts of Islamabad, according to Khan's party and officials, with reports of violence emerging from other areas.

The protest march, dubbed the “final call” by Khan, is the latest in a series of demonstrations organized by his party to secure his release since his imprisonment in August last year. Khan's supporters are determined to pressure the government into freeing their leader, who faces numerous charges, including corruption and inciting violence.

The government has taken drastic measures to prevent the protests, blocking highways leading to Islamabad and deploying large contingents of police and paramilitary personnel in riot gear. Mobile phone services have also been suspended in some areas, and gatherings of more than five people have been banned in Islamabad.

Protests demanding the release of Imran Khan swept across Pakistan, despite a stringent security lockdown imposed by authorities over the past two days. The lockdown included barricading highways, banning gatherings, and blocking mobile and internet access in areas deemed security concerns.

Pakistani authorities took extensive measures to thwart the protests, including shutting down public transport between cities and terminals in the eastern province of Punjab. This move aimed to prevent protesters, mainly comprising members of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, from gathering.

According to provincial Information Minister Uzma Bukhari, approximately 80% of Khan's supporters were arrested. Local police in the Punjab region reported detaining around 4,000 Khan supporters, including five parliamentarians.

Pakistan's government has been accused of using violence to suppress protesters, according to the PTI party. “We wouldn't let them storm the capital,” a government official said, highlighting the authorities' determination to maintain control. The capital city of Islamabad has been fortified with an extra layer of security ahead of a visit by Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko, scheduled to arrive on Monday.

The PTI party alleges that the current government is employing violent tactics to block protesters, resulting in the arrest of hundreds of workers and leaders. This is not the first time PTI protests have turned violent; their most recent protest in Pakistan's capital in October also descended into chaos.

Imran Khan, the leader of PTI, was ousted from power by parliament in 2022 after a fallout with Pakistan's powerful military. Khan faces a range of charges, including corruption and instigating violence, all of which he and his party vehemently deny.