Supporters of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaf (PTI) party on Friday gathered at D-Chowk, a prominent square in Islamabad, the country's capital, to protest and demand Khan's release from prison, where he has been held for over a year.
In light of the planned march, the government has implemented stringent measures to prevent the gathering, especially with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in the capital for bilateral discussions and the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting on October 15-16. Authorities have deployed approximately 6,000 security personnel and erected around 300 shipping containers at key entry points to restrict access to the city.
The situation remains tense as thousands of PTI supporters allegedly continue to make their way to Islamabad from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which is located in the northwestern region of the country, while authorities have enforced road closures on major motorways and established diversions to obstruct access to the capital.
More than 400 PTI workers have been arrested amid intensified raids in Islamabad and the nearby city of Rawalpindi. Additionally, the capital administration has imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which bans public gatherings for six days to thwart further protests. As the situation remains fraught, schools, businesses and government offices have been closed across the country.
In recent weeks, the PTI has organized numerous rallies nationwide, protesting the detention of its founder and the delays by the Election Commission of Pakistan in executing verdicts on reserved seats, and advocating for the "preservation" of the Constitution.
Former Pakistani PM's supporters defy ban, continue protest in Islamabad
