PTI convoy marches towards Islamabad's D-Chowk amid tense clashes

Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi leads PTI convoy as Army deployed with 'shoot at sight' orders.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) convoy, led by Bushra Bibi, the wife of Imran Khan, has reached Islamabad's Zero Point from 26 Number Chungi, where intense police shelling has been reported, along with stone-pelting by PTI supporters.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior has announced the deployment of the Pakistan Army under Article 245 of the Constitution in response to escalating security concerns in Islamabad.

The move comes amid rising tensions following protests organised by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, leading to violent clashes with security forces, Express News reported.

Clashes between the police and PTI workers continue in Islamabad, with protesters reaching Zero Point.

Rangers have been deployed at key government buildings, and military troops are stationed at D-Chowk.

The effects of tear gas shelling have reached Aabpara Chowk, prompting businesses in Aabpara Market to shut down. In light of the escalating situation, additional police personnel have been called in from Rawalpindi, with an initial deployment of 1,000 officers to Islamabad.

Authorities have issued stringent directives to security personnel, authorising them to take decisive action against agitators and miscreants, including the use of extreme measures such as shooting rioters on sight, according to the Radio Pakistan website.

The interior ministry's notification also grants the Pakistan Army the authority to impose curfews in any locality deemed necessary to maintain law and order.

Rangers personnel martyred

The situation escalated earlier in the morning when miscreants rammed a vehicle into Rangers personnel during the protest on Srinagar Highway in Islamabad, resulting in the martyrdom of four Rangers officials and two policemen, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.

Additionally, a group of armed individuals pelted stones and opened fire on security forces at Chungi No 26 in Rawalpindi, injuring a Ranger who was later transferred to CMH Rawalpindi in critical condition.

In response, security sources confirmed that all necessary measures are being taken to counter any terrorist activities and maintain public safety.

Naqvi warns of curfew

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi warned the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of strict measures to prevent their march on D-Chowk in the federal capital.

Speaking to the media during a visit to D-Chowk and the funeral of martyred police Constable Mubashar Bilal in Rawalpindi, the minister revealed that the government had offered the PTI an alternative to stage their sit-in at Sangjani, rather than entering the capital's sensitive Red Zone.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by The Express Tribune (@etribune)

Naqvi said that the PTI wanted "bodies to advance their disruptive agenda" but the authorities would not give them the chance. He warned that if the police fire bullets in response to the protesters' firing, they could not even cross Pathargarh, yet the law-enforcement personnel exercised restraint.

"No one has ever been given permission to protest in D-Chowk. We offered them Sangjani. We asked them to give application and sit in Sangjani," Naqvi said during his D-Chowk visit. "My information is that they got approval from Imran Khan but we haven't got a final answer from PTI," he added.

"I'm saying again the Belarus president is here in Pakistan, so do not cross the Red Line. Otherwise, we will have to take extreme steps, including invoking Article 245 [calling in the army], imposing curfew or any other extreme steps," the minister continued.

"They have to decide if they go to Sangjani or not," Naqvi stated. "They come [to D-chowk] and we let them go… this cannot happen, now," he said. "We have shown leniency where necessary but once the red line is crossed the government will take extreme steps."

He said that the protestors had been trying to get a body to spur their protest but the government had ensured that no such situation arose. "If we had fired in response to their firing, they could not have crossed even Pathargarh," he said, adding that the police showed restraint.

"Bullet could have been fired in response to a bullet, but the police responded to the protesters with rubber bullets and tear gas so that no harm is done," Naqvi said. "Those who injured our officers will not be forgiven and will be dealt with strictly," he added.

'Talks underway'

Barrister Gohar Khan and Saif held a 90-minute meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi.

Following the meeting, Barrister Gohar described the discussion as significant, confirming that Imran Khan’s call for a protest remains final and that rumors about it being canceled were untrue.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Barrister Gohar emphasised that the PTI founder’s stance on the protest was unchanged, and the movement would proceed as planned. The meeting focused on strategic discussions regarding the ongoing political situation and the party's future course of action.

When asked about the ongoing negotiations surrounding the protest, Barrister Gohar assured reporters that updates would be provided in due course. He further confirmed that discussions were still ongoing but did not offer further details at this time.

'Final call'

The PTI gave its final call for the protest to meet its four demands: release of all political prisoners, including Imran Khan, reversal of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, restoration of democracy and Constitution in the country and return of allegedly "stolen mandate".

The demands surfaced on November 13 after Imran had urged people via a post on X, formerly Twitter, to reach Islamabad and not to return until those were met. The PTI had said that its rallies would be converted into a sit-in in the federal capital and end only when the demands were met.

Since then, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led government, backed by a recent order of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), has been stating that neither the protestors would be allowed to enter the capital nor any leniency would be shown to them this time around.

In anticipation of a possible head-on collision between the authorities and the protesters and in view of the visit by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, the government decided to place containers to block all the main arteries leading to Islamabad.

The blockade has brought the twin cities as well as several other cities in Punjab to a standstill. A surprising decision was the sudden beginning of the repair work on different motorways. Besides, the government also shut down the internet in several areas.

Internet services suspension

The interior ministry had already announced a day ago that WiFi and mobile internet services would be suspended in areas with "security concerns" but it would remain operational in the rest of the country. Nevertheless, internet tracking monitor Netblocks said WhatsApp backends were restricted in Pakistan.

The decision was part of the government's strategy to block communication ahead of the planned protests. Amid this, both sides remained steadfast, refusing to back down until achieving their objectives.

Before the march began, the federal and Punjab governments imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC)—a legal measure enabling district administrations to ban public gatherings temporarily and denied PTI permission to hold the protest.

Nevertheless, PTI took to the streets, with Gandapur leading the march from the party's stronghold in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, joined by the provincial leadership, workers, supporters, and Imran Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi. Though the caravans had entered Punjab, they were unlikely to reach Islamabad by Sunday night.

In a brief address to workers in Swabi, Gandapur urged them to press forward and not retreat until Imran Khan's release, calling on protesters to use all their strength to clear the path to the federal capital.

'No turning back without Imran Khan'

As the PTI convoy reached the Punjab boundary, the police started shelling on them at the Attock Bridge, Chach interchange and Ghazi Barotha canal areas. Later, Gandapur directed the convoy to stop at Ghazi Maqam for a while, urging the workers to get ready, because there was a "battle ahead".

Meanwhile, it was reported that Imran Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, also addressed the workers and asked them to quickly move ahead in their vehicles instead of walking along the march, stressing they would have to move fast and shouldn't come back without bringing Imran Khan back.

While the K-P saw the largest mobilisation of the participants, the rallies also set out from various parts of Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan. In Punjab, opposition supporters marched from cities, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Mianwali, Kasur, Okara, and Vehari, among others.

Despite heavy police and Rangers' deployment, many PTI workers managed to breach barricades and evade restrictions, in an attempt to reach the capital. Throughout the day, the PTI workers and LEA officials kept clashing in different parts of Punjab.

Several leaders arrested

A media report suggested that several PTI leaders, including PTI's chief whip in the National Assembly Amir Dogar and Zain Qureshi were arrested from Multan. Reports attributed to the Punjab police spokesperson said that around 600 people had been arrested for violating Section 144 in Punjab.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi promised on Sunday to restrict protestors outside Islamabad. Naqvi took an aerial view of Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Attock to review security arrangements in the three cities. He expressed satisfaction with the arrangements.

Naqvi stated that necessary measures had been taken to ensure peace and public order in compliance with the IHC's order. He added that police and paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) and Rangers were diligently performing their duties.

The government had taken all possible measures to protect the lives and property of the citizens and that strict action would be taken against "miscreants" in accordance with the law, the interior minister emphasised.