Imran Khan's supporters forced to end protest in Pakistan after midnight crackdown

Supporters of jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, demanding the release of the cricketer-turned-politician from jail, were forced to end their protest in Islamabad after security personnel launched a midnight crackdown on their demonstration. During the protest, clashes broke out between Khan's supporters and police that left six security personnel dead and dozens injured.

Pakistani TV channels showed footage of Khan's supporters facing tear gas and climbing on the shipping containers placed on the roads leading to D-Chowk, which is located close to several important government buildings - the Presidency, the PM's Office, the Parliament and the Supreme Court.

Police sources said that 450 protesters were arrested in the midnight crackdown and more arrests were expected. Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said that security forces fired live rounds on protesters with an intent to kill as many as people in the protest, which it described as a "massacre" under the "fascist military regime".

"A massacre has unfolded in Pakistan at the hands of security forces under the brutal, fascist military regime led by the Shehbaz-Zardari-Asim alliance. The nation is drowning in blood," PTI tweeted while referring to the ruling coalition headed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari, and General Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

"With hundreds dead and countless injured, the interior minister’s threat to kill and then the declaration of ‘victory’ over slaughtered innocents is enough evidence of the regime’s inhumanity," it said.

"The world must condemn this atrocity and the erosion of democracy and humanity in Pakistan. The international community must take a strong stand against this brutal crackdown," the party added.

Earlier on Tuesday evening, PTI supporters battled security personnel and succeeded in reaching D-Chowk for a sit-in till their leader told otherwise as part of their protest march to Islamabad that started on November 24.

Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, who was leading the march to Islamabad from Peshawar along with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, announced that the protesters would not go away until Imran Khan, who had given the final call for protest, was released from jail. Bibi's announcement came even as security personnel continued their efforts to move the protesters from the area.

MIDNIGHT CRACKDOWN DRAMA

Around midnight, police and Pakistani Rangers launched an operation to clear the protest area, forcing the protesters to move away along with Bibi and Gandapur. Special teams were formed to arrest PTI leaders, sources said.

Addressing a press conference later at D-Chowk, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi claimed that Gandapur and Bibi had fled away. "They ran away in front of you, not one or two or three, but thousands of people ran away," he said.

He said it was a priority to restore the roads that were closed to traffic in the capital. He also announced that schools would reopen on Thursday and internet services would be restored today.

PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram later tweeted that "Gandapur and Bibi were safe", according to the information he received from sources he did not disclose.

Geo News, however, reported that Bibi and Gandapur reached Peshawar, while the party had ended its protest.

PAKISTAN GOVERNMENT ALLEGES FOREIGN HAND IN PROTESTS

Pakistani Information Minister Tarar accused the PTI of orchestrating the protest with the help of foreign elements, claiming that Afghan nationals had been recruited to join the demonstration. He identified an arrested 16-year-old Afghan boy as an example of foreign participation.

He alleged that documents were found detailing a plan to enter the Red Zone to attack parliament and government property, and target state officials.

Imran Khan, who has been in jail since August last year, issued a "final call" on November 13 for nationwide protests on November 24, denouncing what he termed as the stolen mandate, the unjust arrests of people under a "dictatorial regime".

The 72-year-old PTI leader has been implicated in dozens of cases since his government was dismissed through a no-confidence motion in 2022. He has been in Adiala Jail at Rawalpindi since last year facing over 200 cases.

His party won the largest number of seats in the February general elections despite contesting as independents, as the party was denied an election symbol. Imran Khan has alleged that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and its coalition partners, including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), had "stolen the mandate" to grab power.

(with inputs from PTI)