Pakistan: Thousands arrested as Imran Khan supporters demand release from prison
Supporters of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan gather in Islamabad. [Farooq Naeem/AFP]
Pakistani police have detained over 4,000 supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, as the capital Islamabad remains under lockdown ahead of a planned rally calling for Khan’s release.
Khan, jailed for over a year and facing more than 150 criminal charges, continues to command widespread public support. His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), claims the charges are politically driven.
Authorities have sealed Islamabad with shipping containers and restricted major routes from PTI strongholds in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.
Clashes have been reported, including teargas exchanges on a highway bordering the two provinces. Mobile and internet services have also been suspended in areas deemed to pose “security concerns,” with some PTI supporters turning to landline networks and VPNs to bypass restrictions.
Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, is traveling with a convoy led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to join the protests, signaling high-profile party support despite the crackdown.
PTI gatherings in Peshawar have taken on a celebratory atmosphere, with drumming, dancing, and displays of Khan’s images as convoys head toward the capital.
Reacting to the country’s developments, the U.S. Embassy has issued a security alert advising Americans to avoid large gatherings, citing the potential for violence.
Meanwhile, Islamabad’s Red Zone, home to critical government buildings, has been cordoned off, with authorities warning of arrests for those attempting to breach the area.
The measures coincide with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s visit, with officials claiming the lockdown is necessary to ensure security and prevent disruption. Critics, however, view the sweeping crackdowns as efforts to stifle political dissent.
