Shells, shutdowns, showdowns: Imran Khan's supporters lay siege to Islamabad

Pakistan police Sunday (Nov 24) detained over 1,200 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers,the supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, as they continued their march towards capital Islamabad, demanding freedom for their leader. Pakistan’s ARY News reported that senior leaders of the party, including Zain Qureshi, Amir Doggar, Nadeem Qureshi, Waseem Badozai, and Moinuddin Qureshi, were detained near Qadirpur Raan.

Ahead of the protest, the authorities had locked down the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi whileshutting all entry and exit points.

To thwart the advance of PTI supporters towards the capital, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) partially suspended internet services starting November 22.

On Sunday, as PTI workers started descending upon Islamabad, the party’s social media handles reported ‘extreme shelling’ by the ‘fascist regime’ of PM Shehbaz Sharif.

“Visuals of the extreme shelling by fascist regime against its own citizens at Islamabad Express,” PTI posted on X. “It’s absolutely disgusting and shameful how inhumanly this government is treating Pakistanis,” the post added.

PTI leaders claimed on social media their convoys were being forcibly halted by police and were being targeted with teargas shelling. “The fascist regime has started, as expected, tear gas shelling against peaceful Pakistanis,” a social media post by PTI read.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi defended the government’s extreme measures against PTI supporters, saying his administration wants to “protect Islamabad”.

“One option is that we let them come and […] paralyse Islamabad. The other option is to protect Islamabad,” he said.

“The area where they (the PTI) have called the protest is a protected area of Islamabad, monitored by the IG and DIG,” Naqvi was quoted as saying by Dawn News, referring to the Red Zone. “Any protesters who enter that area will be arrested,” he warned.

Naqvi also condemned PTI for staging massive protests at a time when a large Belarusian delegation is visiting the capital.

“If you wish to protest, that is your right, but you know exactly who is coming and you have been blocking off roads and causing trouble,” the minister said.

Imran Khan had, earlier this week,issued a final call for a nationwide protest on Sunday, denouncing what he described as the stolen mandate, the unjust arrests of people, and the passage of the 26th Amendment, which strengthened a “dictatorial regime.”

(With inputs from agencies)