Women and children gather recyclables from the burnt truck used by Bushra Bibi, wife of jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, in Islamabad on November 27, 2024. — Reuters
Pakistani police reported on Wednesday that they had detained nearly 1,000 protesters who marched towards the capital, demanding the release of jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan, following a massive security operation to clear the city center. Since the February elections, Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has continued to hold regular rallies despite government crackdowns, but Tuesday's demonstration was the largest to affect the capital since the polls. Over 10,000 protesters entered the city over the weekend, defying a ban on public gatherings and a lockdown, clashing with 20,000 security personnel deployed to stop them. The government reported at least one police officer killed in Monday's unrest, while four state paramilitary forces were also said to have been killed when protesters ran them over with a vehicle on Tuesday. The protesters aimed to occupy a public square outside parliament and the prime minister's residence. Overnight, security forces used tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters armed with sticks and slingshots, while roadblocks were set on fire. By early Wednesday, AFP staff observed the main thoroughfare towards Islamabad's government enclave cleared of crowds, with security forces in riot gear being transported away from the area. Islamabad Police Inspector General Ali Nasir Rizvi stated that 954 protesters were arrested between Sunday and Tuesday, with 610 of those arrests occurring on Tuesday alone. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the security forces for bravely repelling the protesters. Khan issued a call from his cell outside Islamabad on Tuesday evening, urging more people to join the crowds. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the protests as extremism. Since Sunday, his ministers have held regular press conferences in central Islamabad, vowing no leniency for the marchers. However, as the protesters retreated from the capital, there were increasing calls for reconciliation to prevent future disruptions affecting the country's 240 million citizens. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan urged Khan and Sharif's parties to immediately engage in meaningful political dialogue. Michael Kugelman, South Asia Institute director at The Wilson Center, stated on social media platform X that 'Pakistan's protests had no winners'. Anger towards the establishment has grown due to the crackdown, while PTI was forced to retreat. Khan, a charismatic 72-year-old former cricket star, served as premier from 2018 to 2022 and is the guiding figure of PTI. In his absence, the protests were partially led by his wife, Bushra Bibi, who was also jailed this year but released last month. Sharif's government has faced increasing criticism for its heavy-handed tactics to suppress PTI rallies. Mobile internet was cut across Islamabad, schools remained closed on Wednesday, and roadblocks prevented thousands from reaching their jobs.
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