Pakistani police arrest 954 people after Imran Khan protesters defy authorities and march towards Islamabad

Pakistani authorities say nearly 1,000 protesters who marched through the capital to demand the release of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan were arrested after the crowd was cleared from the city center in a massive sweep operation. security repression.

Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023, sidelined by dozens of court cases that he says are aimed at preventing his return to elections marred by allegations of fraud.

Since the February vote, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has defied government repression with regular rallies, but Tuesday's rally was by far the largest to take place in the capital since the vote.

More than 10,000 demonstrators invaded the city, defying the lockdown and the ban on public gatherings to carry out skirmishes, with 20,000 security agents mobilized to turn them back.

Police fired tear gas to disperse supporters during protests. (AP: Irtisham Ahmed)

Islamabad Inspector General of Police Ali Nasir Rizvi said 954 protesters were arrested between Sunday and Tuesday, when the crowd came within 1.6 kilometers of a public square they wanted to occupy.

The government said at least one police officer and four members of the state paramilitary were killed before the main artery was cleared by forces armed with tear gas and batons early Wednesday.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement that security forces had “bravely pushed back the protesters,” while the PTI told activists on social media that the rally had been called off “for the time being.”

Khan supporters vow to continue protesting

Khan made a statement from his cell outside Islamabad, calling on his supporters to the capital on Tuesday.

But the crowds were led by his top lieutenant Ali Amin Gandapur and his wife Bushra Bibi, who was also jailed earlier this year but released last month.

“The movement continues and only Imran Khan will end it,” Mr Gandapur said after withdrawing from Islamabad to the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where he serves as chief minister. .

Bushra Bibi led the protests calling for the release of her husband Imran Khan. (Reuters: Waseem Khan, file photo)

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the protests “extremism.”

Since Sunday, his ministers have held regular news conferences in central Islamabad, promising no mercy to arriving protesters.

But as they withdrew from the capital, calls for reconciliation grew to avoid future outbreaks of violence affecting ordinary citizens of this country of 240 million people.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said in a statement that Khan's and Mr. Sharif's parties should “immediately begin a constructive political dialogue.”

“It is high time they agreed on a peaceful path forward instead of stirring up the emotions of their respective political workers and paralyzing the country,” the organization said.

Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center, said on X: “The protests in Pakistan have had no winners. »

Anger towards the establishment has grown because of the crackdown, he said, while at the same time the PTI has been forced to retreat.

“Pakistan as a whole is facing an escalating confrontation,” he said.

Pakistani government accused of excessive use of force

Mr Sharif's government has come under increasing criticism for deploying heavy-handed measures to suppress PTI rallies.

Mobile internet was cut in Islamabad, schools closed on Monday remained closed on Wednesday and roadblocks prevented thousands of workers from reaching their workplaces.

Amnesty International said that “as protesters entered the capital, law enforcement used unlawful and excessive force.”

Clean-up of the protests is underway. (Reuters: Akhtar Soomro)

Khan, a charismatic 72-year-old former cricket star, served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022 and is the star of the PTI.

He was ousted in a vote of no confidence after falling out with the military establishment that analysts say is behind the rise and fall of Pakistani politicians.

But he led an unprecedented campaign of defiance as opposition leader, with street protests escalating into unrest that the government cited as the reason for its crackdown.

The PTI won more seats than any other party in this year's elections, but a coalition of parties seen as more susceptible to military influence pushed it out of power.

AFP/ABC

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: cgurgu@internetmarketingcompany.BizWebsite: 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