lundi, décembre 2, 2024
Home World Pakistani troops killed as protesters storm barricades demanding the release of jailed...

Pakistani troops killed as protesters storm barricades demanding the release of jailed ex-PM Imran Khan


PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Four members of Pakistan’s security services were killed as thousands of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s supporters broke through government barricades and clashed with law enforcement in Islamabad on Tuesday.

The Interior Ministry said in a statement that vehicles in a convoy of protesters ran over the paramilitary officers.

“It is not a peaceful protest. It is extremism,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a separate statement issued by his office.

The protests were sparked by demands for Khan’s release from jail and the resignation of the federal government over what demonstrators call rigged general elections this year.

Demonstrators dismantled roadblocks, including shipping containers, which were set up on motorways and roads to prevent their entry. Authorities meanwhile, fired tear gas in an attempt to scatter the protesters.

Thousands of protestors calling for the release of Pakistan's jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan defied roadblocks and tear gas to march to the gates of the nation's capital on November 26.
A protester approaches police officers after tear gas was fired to disperse the crowd in Islamabad on Tuesday. Aamir Qureshi / AFP – Getty Images

Farooq Khan, who lives in Islamabad, told NBC News that the capital had become a “battlefield.”

“We the residents have been restricted to our homes as all educational institutions and markets are closed for the past three days,” said Khan, who is not related to the former prime minister.

Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, and a key aide, Ali Amin Gandapur, who is the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, led the march that wended its way into the capital early Tuesday, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf party said.

Urging the government not to harm the protesters, Bibi told supporters to march peacefully toward the Red Zone, where critical state institutions, including the prime minister’s residence and foreign embassies, are located.

Khan, a former cricket icon, has been in jail for more than a year. After he was ousted through a no-confidence vote in Parliament in April 2022, he was sentenced to three years a graft case. Then in January, he was found guilty of revealing official secrets and sentenced to a further 10 years in prison.

He faces more than 150 other criminal cases, but he and his party remain popular.

Pakistan deploys army as supporters of former Prime Minister Khan reach capital
Shipping containers were used to block protesters as they move toward Islamabad.Muhammad Reza / Anadolu via Getty Images

He had earlier told supporters to stage a sit-in protest at a roundabout just outside Parliament, demanding his release and a rollback of recent constitutional amendments they argue weakens the power of the judiciary.

However, Pakistan’s security forces attempted to stop the protests reaching Islamabad.

On Monday, police fired tear gas canisters at demonstrators to stop them from entering the capital.

It came after a court last week prohibited rallies in the city, while police arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters and suspended mobile and internet services in some parts of the country.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf party uses messaging platforms like WhatsApp to share information and relies heavily on social media platforms to share details of events. The X platform, which is banned in Pakistan, is no longer accessible even with a VPN.

Thousands of protestors calling for the release of Pakistan's jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan defied roadblocks and tear gas to march to the gates of the nation's capital on November 26.
Police fired tear gas in a bid to disperse the crowds.AAMIR QURESHI / AFP – Getty Images

Some PTI leaders held talks with the government Monday as federal authorities offered a designated area for the protest away from D-Chowk, a large square in the sensitive Red Zone.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said Khan’s party rejected a government offer to rally on the outskirts of the city.

Amid growing security concerns, the government has called in army troops to reinforce the police and paramilitary presence amid growing security concerns, particularly in the Red Zone.

The escalating tensions reflect a deeply polarized political environment in Pakistan.

Authorities say that only the courts can order Khan’s release. His party says the cases against him are politically motivated.

Mushtaq Yusufzai reported from Peshawar and Freddie Clayton from London.



Source link

Must Read

Small island states seek climate change justice in landmark top UN court case

A major case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) may pave the way for...

French government faces collapse after PM circumvents parliament over budget bill

French government faces collapse after PM circumvents parliament over budget bill Source link
video

Disha Patani in recent Event | Latest News of Disha Patani

Disha Patani in recent Event | Latest News of Disha Patani Disha Patani attended an event showcasing her stylish presence and ... source

Architects across London bake up magic at the Gingerbread City exhibition

Architects across London bake up magic at the Gingerbread City exhibition Source link

Biden to make history as the first U.S. president to visit Angola

LUANDA, Angola — President Joe Biden will make history Monday as he becomes the first American head of state to visit the West...