Capital showdown begins as PTI caravan breaks barriers

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) defied all odds on Monday, as its protest march finally reached the federal capital, removing blockades and clashing with the law-enforcement agency (LEA) personnel, and continued to advance towards the D-Chowk in Islamabad's 'Red Zone'.

The arrival of the marchers in Islamabad forced the other side to not only engage it in "informal talks" with the protester leaders, but also open the doors of the Adiala Jail twice for their meeting with jailed PTI founder Imran Khan.

The PTI rallies from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) – which is led by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, and accompanied by wife of the PTI founder Bushra Bibi – as well as different cities of Punjab, continued for the second day.

The march began on Sunday, in response to the PTI's "final call" to press for the party's four demands, including the release of party founder Imran Khan and other "political prisoners from jails". The march resumed on Monday morning.

Motorway M-1, Hazara and Hakla interchanges remained a battleground between the protestors and the law enforcers due to shelling and stone pelting. During clashes, police Constable Mubashir Bilal was martyred and dozens of policemen, including two deputy superintendents of police (DSPs) were injured.

The convoy, supported by National Assembly Opposition Leader in Omar Ayub, kept moving, removing container barriers. Gandapur remained present among workers, while Bibi continued to encourage the protesters. They entered Islamabad from Chungi No 26 after intense clashes with LEAs.

Meanwhile, PTI's Secretary Information Sheikh Waqas Akram refuted reports that a formal meeting took place between the PTI and the government side, especially the one between the party officials and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq at the Ministers' Enclave.

However, he told The Express Tribune that messages had been conveyed between the two sides. "Engagement is there but no formal talks between two sides have taken place yet," Akram said, adding: "It is possible that the engagement might turn into formal talks and lead to a breakthrough."

Akram said that the government side could show its sincerity in the engagement by releasing Imran and other prisoners from jails, reiterating that their final destination was still the D-Chowk. He, however, expressed the hope that things could get better.

While condemning the killing of the police constable in clashes, he said that the martyred official was "our brother". He insisted that the PTI workers were unarmed and coming to the capital for holding a peaceful protest.

When asked about a thin participation from Punjab in the protest, Akram said that they had faced too many difficulties, unlike K-P where the PTI was in power. In Punjab, he added, the party leaders and workers had been on the receiving end for several months.

He, however, added that efforts were still being made to mobilise the people, and the party leaders in the province had been conveyed via Zoom meetings to keep trying and reach the federal capital to join the main protest.

The reports about meetings with government side emerged after PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan met with Imran Khan twice in the 24 hours to update him on the outside situation, government's offer to stay at Sangjani area of the capital and take instructions for future course of action.

This development was also confirmed by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi when he said that government had offered Sangjani area for the protest and Barrister Gohar had met Imran twice. However, he said that no final response had so far been received from them.

Following the Imran-Gohar meeting, media reports speculated that Imran had recorded a video message for his party leaders, containing instructions for a future course of action. However, there was no confirmation from Gohar, as he didn't talk to the media, while the party leaders remained tight-lipped.

The face-off between the government and PTI is taking at a time when an 80-member delegation of Belarus, led by its President has arrived in Islamabad. The government has constantly been accusing the PTI of choosing protests date whenever there was any foreign delegation comes in Pakistan.

PTI, on the other hand, maintains that the government has the option to settle the dust by releasing Imran Khan and other political prisoners, stressing that the rest of its demands could be discussed later on. Since no one is ready to budge, the stalemate continues.

On November 13, the PTI issued its four demands: release of Imran Khan and all the political prisoners, reversal of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, restoration of democracy and Constitution and return of alleged stolen mandate of the party.