Supporters of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan have staged a rally in Islamabad demanding his release from jail. Despite a ban on protests and a police crackdown, demonstrators gathered to show their support for Khan. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party claimed that their leader from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Province, Ali Amin Gandapur, had been unlawfully detained, although this could not be independently verified.
Gandapur had led thousands of protesters who had camped on the Islamabad-Peshawar highway, leading to clashes with police who used tear gas to disperse the crowd. This protest is part of a series of demonstrations by the PTI, which has faced a crackdown from authorities. The PTI also held a gathering in Lahore, where roads were locked down.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi accused the protesters of clashing with police, resulting in injuries to over 80 officers. The authorities had intelligence that the protesters planned to disrupt a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting, leading Naqvi to warn against further escalation.
Amnesty International condemned the restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, calling it a worrying clampdown on the right to protest in Pakistan. Khan, who was ousted in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in 2022, remains in jail facing trial in various cases. The PTI alleges that the elections in February were rigged, leading to the arrest of several lawmakers.
The situation in Pakistan remains tense as supporters of Imran Khan continue to push for his release and protest against what they see as government interference in the democratic process.
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