Janice R. Andrews
Islamabad, October 5, 2024 – Defying an official ban on public assemblies, followers of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party rallied in Islamabad on Friday. The protesters are calling for the release of Khan, the former Prime Minister who has been incarcerated for over a year following his removal from office. The demonstration has increased unrest in the capital, prompting authorities to deploy a substantial security force to contain the situation.
The protest coincides with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s diplomatic visit to Islamabad and the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit set for October 15-16. In response, the government has implemented stringent security protocols, including the deployment of 6,000 security personnel and the strategic placement of 300 shipping containers at key access points to limit movement into the city. These measures aim to prevent an influx of PTI supporters, many reportedly traveling from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in the northwest.
Undeterred by these obstacles, protesters have continued to advance towards D-Chowk, a central square in the capital where a significant crowd has already assembled. The city administration has invoked Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), prohibiting public gatherings for six days, but this has not dissuaded the demonstrators.
The unrest has led to over 400 arrests of PTI workers, with authorities intensifying raids in Islamabad and neighboring Rawalpindi. The PTI has responded by calling for nationwide rallies, demanding not only Khan’s release but also urging the Election Commission of Pakistan to expedite decisions regarding the party’s reserved parliamentary seats.
As political tensions escalate, many educational institutions, businesses, and government offices across Pakistan have suspended operations. The PTI’s protests, which have attracted significant attention, focus on preserving Pakistan’s Constitution, which they believe has been compromised by Khan’s imprisonment and delays in resolving key political issues.
With the government maintaining a firm stance and protests intensifying, Islamabad remains in a state of uncertainty, with further demonstrations anticipated in the near future.
