Pakistani authorities launch operation to expel Imran Khan supporters from capital

ISLAMABAD (AP) Pakistani security forces launched an operation late Tuesday to disperse supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan who had gathered in the capital to demand his release from prison.

This latest development came hours after thousands of Khan's supporters, defying government warnings, broke through a shipping container barrier blocking Islamabad and entered a high-security zone, where they clashed with security forces, faced with tear gas bombardments, mass arrests and shootings.

Tensions have been high in Islamabad since Sunday, when supporters of the former prime minister began a long march from the restive northwest to demand his release. Khan has been in prison for more than a year and faces more than 150 criminal cases that his party says are politically motivated.

Trusted news and daily delights, straight to your inbox

See for yourself The Yodel is the definitive source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories.

Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, led the protest, but fled when police pushed back protesters. Hundreds of Khans' supporters have been arrested during the ongoing nighttime operation, and police are also seeking to arrest Bibi.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters that the red zone, which houses government buildings and embassies, and surrounding areas had been emptied. Leaders of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or PTI, party also fled the protest site.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Pakistani army took control of D-Chowk, a large square in the red zone, where visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is staying.

Since Monday, Naqvi had threatened that security forces would use live ammunition if protesters fired at them. We have now authorized the police to intervene if necessary, Naqvi said on Tuesday during his visit to the square.

Before the operation began, protester Shahzor Ali said people had taken to the streets because Khan had called them. We will stay here until Khan joins us. He will decide what to do next, Ali said.

If they fire bullets again, we will respond with bullets, he said.

Protester Fareeda Bibi, who is not related to Khan's wife, said people had suffered a lot over the past two years.

We have really suffered over the last two years, whether economically, politically or socially. We were ruined. I have never seen such Pakistan in my life, she said.

The authorities have struggled to contain the violence linked to the demonstrations. Six people, including four members of the security services, were killed when a vehicle crashed into them on a street on Tuesday night. A police officer died in another incident.

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.

On Tuesday afternoon, new waves of protesters marched unopposed to their final destination in the red zone. Most protesters wore Khan's party flag around their shoulders or wore its tricolors on accessories.

Naqvi said Khan's party had rejected a government offer to rally on the outskirts of the city.

Information Minister Atta Tarar warned that there would be a severe government response to the violence. He said the government did not want Bushra Bibi to achieve its goal of freeing Khan. She wants the bodies to fall to the ground. She wants blood to be shed, he said.

The government says only the courts can order Khan's release. He was ousted in 2022 following a vote of no confidence in Parliament.

In a bid to thwart the unrest, police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters since Friday and suspended mobile and internet services in parts of the country. Messaging platforms were also experiencing major disruptions in the capital.

Khan's party relies heavily on social media and uses messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. The X platform, banned in Pakistan, is no longer accessible, even with a VPN.

Last 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.

The Pakistan Stock Exchange lost more than $1.7 billion on Tuesday due to rising political tensions, according to economist Mohammed Sohail of Topline Securities.

___

Associated Press writers Munir Ahmed in Islamabad and Asim Tanveer in Multan, Pakistan, contributed to this report.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos