Imran Khan Supporters Gather in Islamabad Amid Political Turmoil

Supporters of Imran Khan stage a significant protest in Islamabad for his release and against election results, leading to clashes with authorities. The situation remains tense as schools close and internet services are suspended amid the ongoing unrest.

As Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, remains under lockdown for a second consecutive day, thousands of supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan have converged on the city. Protesters are calling for Khan's release from jail after more than a year of legal troubles and demanding that the results of recent elections they allege were rigged be overturned. This claim is contested by the government.

Khan, despite his detention, continues to garner substantial public support, with protests spearheaded by his wife, Bushra Bibi. She declared on Monday that the demonstrations would persist until her husband is freed. The current rally follows Khan's "final call" to his supporters, urging them to occupy the capital until their grievances are addressed.

Clashes have erupted between protesters and police as authorities have imposed restrictions on the demonstration, blocking streets with shipping containers and suspending internet access. Schools and colleges in the region have closed due to fears of escalating violence. Reports indicate that PTI members have faced tear gas from law enforcement, while police claim to have sustained injuries from stones thrown by demonstrators, leading to 139 arrests and injuries for 14 officers.

Bushra Bibi, a pivotal figure in leading the protest, vowed that the march would continue until her husband's release. She emphasized that the struggle extends beyond personal matters, framing it as a fight for the country's leadership. Although she was sentenced to prison alongside Khan earlier this year, she was released on bail in late October.

Khan has maintained his status as a potent force in Pakistan's opposition, having been ousted from power by parliament in 2022 amid a fallout with the military. He adamantly denies the charges against him, which encompass accusations of corruption, inciting violence, and illegal marriage to Bushra Bibi. Although the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party was banned from participating in the recent election, candidates backing it surprisingly won a majority of seats, yet not enough to establish a government. Khan has accused the ruling parties, PML-N and PPP, of election fraud, allegations that the authorities deny.