 "Deaths, violent protests, internet shutdown: How Imran Khan's supporters have left Islamabad in chaos")
The protests in Islamabad are escalating.
At least seven people are dead and dozens left injured after supporters of ex-prime minister Imran Khan – who issued a ‘final call’ protest – clashed with the police in Pakistan’s capital.
Members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party led by his wife Bushra Bibi, other leaders and thousands of Khan’s supporters from all over Pakistan have been making their way to the capital since Sunday.
They are demanding Khan’s release from jail as well as the resignation of his government in what they claim was a rigged election.
But what is happening in Pakistan?
Let’s take a closer look:
Protesters on move
As per CNN, protesters gathered at Zero Point in Islamabad on Tuesday morning.
They have since resumed their march to D-Chowk, according to India Today, protesters
D-Chowk, often known as Democracy Chowk or Gaza Chowk, is a public square in Islamabad near several important government buildings.
As per Al Jazeera, Khan’s supporters are less than 10 kilometres away from D-Chowk.
The Pakistan Rangers have been deployed as the first line of defence, while police are suited up in riot gear.
Authorities have also deployed water cannons.
Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder called the situation “extremely tense.”
“The protesters are now within the city. That is a point of great concern after the reports that the police were to crush the protesters,” Hyder said.
Hyder added that demonstrators are “determined” to reach D-chowk.
“This is where they will present their demands to the government. So, indeed high tensions,” he added.
CNN quoted doctors at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences as saying that that five people had died, including four security officials and one civilian.
Multiple sources said a car ran over them.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi paid “tribute to the four Rangers personnel who were martyred,” as per Dawn.
The interior ministry attributed the attacks to “miscreants” but did not identify them further, saying four troops were killed.
“We are standing with the families of the martyrs and will always be with them,” the statement added.
In Punjab province alone, one police officer was shot and killed, at least 119 others were left injured, and 22 police vehicles were torched in clashes just outside Islamabad and elsewhere, provincial police chief Usman Anwar said.
Two officers were in critical condition, he added.
Khan’s party said scores of its workers were also hurt.
‘Not peaceful protest’
“It is not a peaceful protest. It is extremism," Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a statement issued by his office, condemning the bloodshed as being aimed at achieving “evil political designs”.
Dawn quoted Sharif as calling the PTI an “anarchist group seeks bloodshed”.
“Bloodshed for nefarious political agenda is unacceptable and highly condemnable,” the prime minister added.
Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, and a key aide, Ali Amin Gandapur, who is the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, led a march that wended its way into the capital early on Tuesday, his party and Reuters witnesses said.
The government has used shipping containers to block major roads and streets in Islamabad, with patrols of police and paramilitary personnel in riot gear.
Officials and witnesses said all public transport between cities and terminals had also been shut down in the eastern province to keep away the protesters,
Provincial Information Minister Uzma Bukhari said about 80 of Khan’s supporters had been arrested.
Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif told local Geo News TV that the government sought talks with leaders of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to calm the situation. “It was a sincere attempt I must say but it didn’t yield any results,” he said.
Naqvi said security forces showed “extreme restraint” in confronting the protesters, some of whom he said had fired live rounds, while police only used rubber bullets and fired teargas canisters.
“It is easy to respond a bullet with a bullet,” he said.
“Rangers could open fire and there will be no protesters there after five minutes,” Naqvi was quoted as saying by CNN.
“Anyone who reaches here will be arrested.”
He said the government had offered Khan’s party permission to hold a sit-in protest at an open field on Islamabad’s outskirts, adding the party’s leaders took this offer to Khan at his prison cell, but, “we haven’t yet heard back on it.”
Naqvi added the protesters would not be allowed to reach outside parliament, warning the government will be forced to use “extreme” steps if they did not budge, which could include imposing curfew or calling in army troops.
“We will not let them cross our red lines,” he said
‘Firing live bullets’
But Khan’s party accused the government of using excessive violence to block the protesters and said hundreds of workers and leaders had been arrested.
“They are even firing live bullets,” one of Khan’s aides, Shaukat Yousafzai, told Geo News.
Reuters TV and local TV footage showed police firing teargas canisters at Khan’s supporters, who were pelting them with stones and bricks.
The videos showed vehicles and trees ablaze along the main march just outside Islamabad as the protesters at some places pushed shipment containers to make their way.
As per Hindustan Times, video on social media showed Khan’s donning gas masks and protective goggles.
CNN quoted senior PTI leader Kamran Bangash as saying that they were “determined, and we will reach Islamabad.”
“We will overcome all hurdles one by one,” Bangash added.
Dawn quoted Radio Pakistan as reporting that the Pakistan Army was called into Islamabad on Tuesday to “deal with miscreants.”
“Under Article 245, the Pakistan Army has been called in, and orders have been issued to deal with the miscreants with an iron hand,” Radio Pakistan stated.
“Clear orders have also been issued to shoot miscreants and troublemakers on sight,” it added.
Citing security sources, the report said all necessary measures were being taken to “counter terrorist activities by disruptive and extremist elements”.
Bloomberg reported that all educational facilities in Islamabad have been shuttered over reasons of for security reasons.
Mobile phone services in some areas of the capital have been suspended.
A ban on gatherings of more than five people has been imposed.
With inputs from agencies
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