Supporters of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan rallied in Islamabad demanding his release despite a ban on protests and a police crackdown. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party claimed that their leader from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Ali Amin Gandapur, was abducted and unlawfully detained, though the claim could not be independently verified.
Protests have been ongoing, with Gandapur leading thousands of protesters who were camped on the Islamabad-Peshawar highway. The police used tear gas to deter them from entering the city. This is part of a series of protests by PTI supporters facing a crackdown from authorities.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi accused the protesters of clashing with police, leading to injuries among officers. He warned the protesters not to disrupt the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in the city. Amnesty International has criticized the government’s actions as a clampdown on the right to protest in Pakistan.
Imran Khan, who was deposed in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in 2022, remains in jail despite overturned convictions and ongoing trials. His party alleges election rigging in the February elections where Khan was barred from standing. PTI lawmakers have also been arrested recently.
The government has faced criticism from both domestic and international organizations for its handling of the protests and the restrictions on freedom of expression. The situation remains tense as demonstrators continue to demand Khan’s release and raise concerns about the fairness of the political landscape in Pakistan.
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