The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) convoy, led by Bushra Bibi, Imran Khan’s wife, has reached Islamabad’s Zero Point after intense clashes with security forces. Police shelling and stone-pelting by PTI supporters have been reported along the way. As the situation escalates, the Ministry of Interior has deployed the Pakistan Army under Article 245 of the Constitution to help maintain order in the capital.
In Islamabad, protests have led to ongoing confrontations between police and PTI workers. Rangers have been stationed at key government buildings, and the military has deployed troops at D-Chowk. Tear gas shelling has affected areas like Aabpara Chowk, prompting businesses to shut down. The police have called in reinforcements from Rawalpindi, with an additional 1,000 officers arriving in the capital.
Also Read: Imran Khan and Gandapur Booked Over Cop’s Death in PTI Protest
The Interior Ministry has authorized strict measures against agitators, including the use of extreme force like shooting rioters on sight. The army has also been granted the authority to impose curfews in areas where it is deemed necessary to maintain law and order.
Earlier in the day, the violence intensified when miscreants rammed a vehicle into Rangers personnel on Srinagar Highway, resulting in the deaths of four Rangers and two policemen. A further attack in Rawalpindi injured a Ranger, who was later transferred to a hospital in critical condition.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has warned PTI against attempting to march to D-Chowk, a highly sensitive area in the capital’s Red Zone. He clarified that the government had offered an alternative location for the protest in Sangjani but had not received a final response from PTI regarding the offer. Naqvi stressed that the authorities would take extreme measures if the PTI crossed the “Red Line,” including imposing curfews or other necessary steps. He emphasized that the government had exercised restraint in the face of the protests but would not allow the situation to spiral further.
