Islamabad on high alert, braces for protests demanding Khan's release
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Islamabad's red zone, which includes the parliament building, key government offices, embassies, and foreign institutions, is the focal point for the planned protests.
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Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan gives a press conference at his home, in Lahore, Pakistan, on May 18, 2023. (AP)
Pakistan's capital was put under a security lockdown on Sunday ahead of protests by supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan calling for his release.
Highways leading to Islamabad through which supporters of Khan, led by members of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, are expected to approach the city and gather near the parliament, have been blocked.
Most major roads of the city have also been blocked by the government with shipping containers, large contingents of police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in riot gear, and mobile phone services have been suspended.
The Islamabad police announced in a statement that all gatherings have been banned under legal provisions. Meanwhile, global internet watchdog NetBlocks reported on X that live data indicated restrictions on WhatsApp messaging services ahead of the planned protests.
Ali Amin Gandapur, a key aide to Imran Khan and the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, urged supporters to assemble near the entrance of Islamabad’s red zone, commonly referred to as "D Chowk". Gandapur is expected to lead the largest convoy into the capital.
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Islamabad's red zone, which includes the parliament building, key government offices, embassies, and foreign institutions, is the focal point for the planned protests. In a video message on Saturday, Ali Amin Gandapur stated, "Khan has called on us to remain there till all our demands are met."
The PTI's demands include the release of all its detained leaders, including Imran Khan, and the resignation of the current government, which the party says came to power through a rigged election earlier this year.
Imran Khan has been incarcerated since August of last year, facing multiple charges, including corruption and inciting violence, after being ousted from office by parliament in 2022. Both Khan and his party deny all the allegations.
