5 killed as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan’s supporters clash with security forces demanding his release

At least five security personnel were killed, and dozens, including police officers, were injured in Pakistan after supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan clashed with security forces during their march toward the capital Islamabad on Nov 25.

The protesters demanding Khan’s release resumed their march on Nov 26 to reach D-Chowk in Islamabad, close to several strategic buildings in the capital, according to media reports.

The violent agitation prompted the Pakistan government to authorize the Army on Nov 26 to ‘shoot at sight’ in a bid to bring the escalating situation to normal.

Imran Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief had issued a "final call" for nationwide protests starting Nov 24, rejecting what he described as a "stolen mandate". The party urged the public to join the demonstrations to "break the shackles of slavery".

Protesters, led by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, began their march toward Islamabad on Nov 24, media reports said.

A police officer was fatally shot, and four paratroopers were run over by protesters. Dozens of policemen were injured as the city witnessed heightened tensions, attacks on police, and torching of vehicles as PTI workers advanced towards the capital on Nov 25, according to Pakistani English Daily The Nation.

According to Radio Pakistan, a vehicle rammed into Pakistan Rangers personnel killing four Rangers officials on the Srinagar Highway in Islamabad late on Nov 25 night. Five other Rangers personnel and several police officials also sustained severe injuries in the incident.

Clashes broke out when protesters entered Islamabad late Nov 25, dodging the efforts by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government to stop the nationwide stir.

The protest spilled over to Nov 26 with the protesters resumed their march to the D-Chowk, close to multiple strategic buildings in the capital.

Strongly condemning the attack on Rangers and police personnel by protesters, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a statement, directed to immediately identify those involved in the incident and ensure they are brought to justice.

“Attacks on police and Rangers, under the guise of a so-called peaceful protest, are condemnable,” he said, adding, that the anarchist group seeks bloodshed and “Pakistan cannot afford any form of chaos or bloodshed. Bloodshed for nefarious political agenda is unacceptable and highly condemnable.”

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi at a late night Nov 25 media interaction said that more than one hundred security personnel, mostly from police, were injured.

“One senior police officer (SP) was critically injured – he suffered a severe head injury due to stone-pelting by protestors,” he added.

Naqvi said the government had offered an alternative venue to the protestors to stage their activity at Sangjani in the suburbs of the capital and apparently Khan has also agreed to it.

Despite permission given by Khan, “Maybe there is a leadership above Imran Khan who has refused to accept this,” Naqvi claimed and confirmed that talks were going on with the PTI to resolve the issue and that the PTI leaders were allowed to meet Khan twice on Nov 25 to get his input.

The government is waiting for a formal response to its offer of an alternative venue for the protest and “We are now waiting for PTI’s response before taking further steps,” Naqvi added.

He also warned that “come what may, the PTI would not be allowed to stage a protest at D Chowk and even hinted at imposing a curfew if needed.”

As the protests intensified on Nov 25, the government blocked highways using shipping containers, concrete barriers, and barricades. However, protesters used lifting equipment and heavy machinery to remove the obstacles, pressing forward toward the national capital, leading to violent clashes, reports said.

Meanwhile, the government on Nov 25 announced all public and private educational institutions would remain closed given the law and order situation both at Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Nov 26.

'Chemicals showered on protestors'

Video on social media showed Khan's supporters wearing gas masks and protective goggles to carry out the march amid heavy security deployment, which made travel between Islamabad and other cities nearly impossible. Ambulances and cars were seen turning back from areas along the key Grand Trunk Road highway in Punjab province, where shipping containers were used to block roads.

Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) shared several videos and images of injured protesters and reshared a post on Nov 26 which claimed that the “government is showering chemicals on protesters from planes.”