By Amjad Ali
Islamabad, Nov 26 (EFE).- The Pakistani army was deployed in Islamabad on Tuesday with shoot-on-sight orders after violent clashes between security forces and supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Thousands of protesters, defying tear gas and road blockades, reached D-Chowk, just 2 km from parliament.
The demonstrators attempted to stage a sit-in outside parliament, prompting the government to call in the army as the situation spiraled out of its control.
“The Pakistan Army has been called in with orders to deal with miscreants with an iron hand,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
“Clear orders have also been issued to shoot miscreants and troublemakers on sight.”
Clashes Turn Deadly
Earlier, a police officer and three paramilitary Rangers were killed, while over 100 security personnel were injured in clashes as protesters advanced toward the capital.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the violence, calling for accountability and paying “tributes to the four martyred.”
“Those responsible for the killings will be brought to justice,” Naqvi said, while accusing leaders of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of instigating the unrest.
The opposition party denied responsibility, claiming that the deaths were caused by security personnel fleeing their vehicles after running out of tear gas.
PTI also alleged that unarmed protesters were fired upon, leaving three dead and several injured.
Protests and Demands
The protests began on Sunday, with convoys from across Pakistan marching toward Islamabad. By Monday night, demonstrators reached the capital’s fortified entry points, facing tear gas, rubber bullets, and barricades.
Videos shared by PTI showed protesters retaliating with stones, forcing security officers to retreat.
On Tuesday morning, marchers resumed their advance toward the high-security D-Chowk area, near key government buildings, in the heart of the capital.
PTI’s demands include the release of Khan and other political prisoners, the restoration of what they allege is a “stolen mandate” from the Feb. 8 general elections, and judicial independence.
Khan, who has been jailed since August last year, faces multiple charges he claims are politically motivated.
Addressing supporters, PTI leader Ali Amin Gandapur said they would not end their sit-in until Khan himself directed them to do so. “We are peaceful, but we will not back down until Khan orders us,” he said from a moving container.
Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, made her first public appearance at a political protest, urging supporters to remain peaceful and await further instructions.
Rising Tensions in the Capital
Islamabad has been under tight security since Sunday, with schools closed and internet services slowed.
Roads connecting Islamabad to Rawalpindi have been shut, causing widespread disruptions. Punjab Inspector General Usman Anwar reported 119 injuries among security personnel, including four with gunshot wounds.
“Despite damage to over 22 police vehicles, the Punjab Police remains on duty with 22,000 personnel actively performing their responsibilities,” Anwar said, emphasizing that forces exercised restraint to avoid further escalation.
Belarusian President in Pakistan
The PTI protests come as Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko arrived in Islamabad on Monday for a key high-stakes three-day visit to Pakistan.
The visit unfolds against the backdrop of heightened tensions in Eastern Europe.
As one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest allies, Lukashenko arrived in Pakistan just days after Moscow launched a hypersonic ballistic missile into Ukrainian territory, the first such strike since the war began in February 2022. EFE
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