Several dead during demonstrations in the Pakistani capital

ISLAMABAD supporters demanding the release of jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan broke through a ring of shipping containers locking down the capital Islamabad on Tuesday, while at least six people died in protest-related violence. Protesters clashed with security forces and ignored the government's threat to respond with gunfire.

The dead included four members of the security services and a civilian who were killed when a vehicle hit them on a street. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denounced the attack on Tuesday, saying an anarchist group was deliberately targeting law enforcement. No responsibility was claimed for the ramming. A police officer died in another incident.

Thousands of security forces poured into central Islamabad. The Pakistani army took control of D-Chowk, a large square in the red zone of downtown Islamabad, which houses key government buildings and is the final destination of the protesters. Paramilitary rangers were the next level of deterrence at the site and police were the third. The Rangers urged everyone to leave the area, including journalists, and fired warning shots into the air.

We have now allowed the police to take any decision based on the situation, said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi during his visit to the square.

Earlier, Naqvi threatened security forces to respond with live fire if protesters fired at them.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was staying in the red zone as part of his official trip.

One protester, Shahzor Ali, said people were on the streets because Khan had called them. We will stay here until Khan is with us. He will decide what to do next.

If they fire bullets again, bullet will be answered by bullet, he said.

Police use tear gas to try to disperse the crowd. Many people were injured, including journalists attacked by demonstrators. Dozens of Khan's supporters beat a videographer covering the protest for The Associated Press and took his camera. He suffered a head injury and was treated in hospital.

Pakistani media mostly stopped filming and photographing the rally, focusing instead on security measures and the city's deserted streets.

People are moving closer to the red zone. Naqvi said Khan's party had rejected a government offer to rally on the outskirts of the city. On Tuesday afternoon, new waves of demonstrators headed unopposed towards the rally site. Most wore the party flag on their shoulders or wore its tricolor on accessories.

Khan, who has been in prison for more than a year and faces more than 150 criminal cases, remains popular. His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or PTI, says the cases are politically motivated.

Authorities say only the courts can order the release of Khan, who was ousted in 2022 by a vote of no confidence in Parliament. He has been incarcerated since his first conviction in a corruption case, in August 2023, and has been convicted in several other cases.

Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, who is leading the protest, asked people to continue marching peacefully towards the red zone. She said another course of action would be communicated to protesters if Khan was not released. She also urged the government not to harm the protesters.

In a bid to thwart the protest, police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters since Friday and suspended mobile and internet services in parts of the country. On Thursday, a court banned gatherings in the capital and Naqvi said anyone violating the ban would be arrested.

Travel between Islamabad and other cities has become almost impossible due to shipping containers blocking the roads. All educational establishments remain closed. Mobile internet services and messaging platforms are experiencing significant disruptions in the capital.

The PTI relies heavily on social media to demand his release and uses messaging platforms like WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. The X platform, banned in Pakistan, is no longer accessible even with a VPN.

Associated Press writer Munir Ahmed contributed to this report.

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