More than 80 police officers have been injured in clashes with supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reported on Saturday. The violence erupted during a march near Islamabad, led by the Chief Minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, where Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), remains in power.
The march, defying a ban on public gatherings, aims to demand Khan’s release and protest against the ruling coalition. Naqvi claimed that the convoy, which was heavily armed, fired on police and used tear gas against law enforcement. Despite the injuries, police were ordered not to carry weapons to avoid escalating the situation.
Authorities have sealed off Islamabad, suspended cellphone services, and deployed the army to strengthen security, as the city prepares for several high-level diplomatic events, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting, which will be attended by delegates from China, Russia, and India.
Naqvi accused the protesters of planning to disrupt the upcoming SCO conference and warned against crossing further red lines, threatening extreme measures if necessary. PTI, however, denies using violence and claims the protest is meant to be peaceful. Alongside the Islamabad march, PTI is also holding a gathering in Lahore, where roads have been locked down.
Source –The Indian Express
