Supporters of Former Pakistani Prime Minister Clash with Security Forces

Thousands of supporters of Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan who is currently in prison, intensified tensions with the government and its military backers on Tuesday by storming a heavily secured area in Islamabad. According to reports, at least six people, including four soldiers, were killed during clashes between security forces and protesters led by Imran Khan's wife. The protesters breached security barriers and advanced close to the 'Red Zone' in Islamabad, but hundreds of police forces eventually pushed them back. The Red Zone, protected by army soldiers, houses the country's most important offices and buildings, including the parliament and a number of foreign embassies. Imran Khan's party, known as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), stated that its members would stage a sit-in in this part of the city until their leader is freed from prison. Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi rejected any negotiations between the government and the protesters. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif blamed Imran Khan's supporters for the deaths of the soldiers and harshly criticized them. PTI spokesperson Zulfiqar Bukhari reported that two protesters were killed and over 30 were injured during the clashes. These confrontations represent the worst political violence in recent months in this 241 million-strong South Asian country. In his statement, Shahbaz Sharif claimed that the actions of Imran Khan's supporters were not peaceful protests and accused them of 'extremism.' He added that the violence of the protesters forced law enforcement to respond. Meanwhile, Amnesty International stated that the Pakistani government must fully protect the rights of protesters and cease violent actions against them. Imran Khan, 72, in a message from prison on social media platform 'X,' urged his supporters to continue the fight for freedom in Pakistan. He accused security forces of shooting at peaceful members of his party and stated that they would not retreat until their demands were met. The violence erupted after a large rally led by Imran Khan's wife in Islamabad. According to Reuters, some protesters attacked vehicles and shops and set fire to a police guard post. The Pakistani Interior Ministry stated that the army has been deployed to protect diplomatic missions in the Red Zone. This rally, which Imran Khan described as the 'final call,' is part of the protest activities organized by his party since the imprisonment of this Pakistani politician. While these activities have been accompanied by minor incidents, today's clashes were significantly broader and may spread to other cities in Pakistan.