Pakistan's capital was under lockdown on Saturday, with security forces swarming the city and mobile internet services suspended as supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan attempted to take to the streets in protest.
Khan, who has been sidelined by numerous legal cases, was disqualified from participating in the February elections, which were marred by allegations of rigging. Despite the crackdown, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has continued to challenge the government through regular demonstrations.
PTI activists started their journey to Islamabad on Friday from Khan's stronghold in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. However, they were met with roadblocks made of shipping containers and tear gas volleys. On Saturday, smaller, scattered convoys continued their push towards Islamabad, defying the government's orders. The government authorized the deployment of troops on the streets, citing the need to ensure security ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit scheduled to begin on October 15.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi later informed local media that over 550 people had been arrested. Protests also took place in Lahore, but the main motorway connecting the eastern megacity to the capital remained blocked.
In a message posted on the social media platform X on Saturday afternoon, Khan expressed pride in his supporters, saying, "You showed unwavering resilience and courage as you came out yesterday and overcame unbelievable obstacles."
The social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, has been blocked across Pakistan since the election, when mobile internet services were also cut on polling day. PTI alleges that widespread vote tampering occurred during the election.
