Supporters of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan staged a rally in Islamabad demanding his release from jail despite a ban on protests and a police crackdown on Saturday. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party claimed that their party leader from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Ali Amin Gandapur, had been abducted and unlawfully detained during the protests.
Gandapur, the Chief Minister of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, led thousands of protesters who camped on the Islamabad-Peshwar highway overnight. Police used tear gas to deter them from entering the city, leading to clashes with officers and injuries on both sides.
This protest is a part of a series of rallies held by PTI supporters, who have faced a crackdown from authorities. The PTI also held a gathering in Lahore, where roads were locked down. Imran Khan, in a message posted on social media, expressed pride in the protesters.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi accused the PTI activists of clashing with police and causing injuries to over 80 officers. Naqvi had urged the PTI to delay their gathering until after a diplomatic engagement in the city, including a conference with delegations from China, Russia, and India.
Amnesty International criticized the government’s restrictions on communications, saying they infringe on people’s rights to freedom of expression and assembly. The organization called it a worrying clampdown on the right to protest in Pakistan.
Imran Khan, a former prime minister, was imprisoned last year on various charges, with some of his convictions being overturned or suspended. He claims the cases against him have been orchestrated to prevent his return to power. The PTI alleges that the February elections were rigged, leading to the arrest of several lawmakers last month.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com