The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has declared a sit-in at Islamabad’s D-Chowk, led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. The protest, which began with a convoy from Peshawar, is set to continue indefinitely pending further directives.
Reports indicate that the PTI convoy, headed by Gandapur, reached China Chowk, where protesters dismantled barricades and clashed with law enforcement. In response to the protesters setting trees ablaze along the green belt, security forces resorted to tear gas shelling.
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Although some workers managed to reach D-Chowk, security personnel eventually pushed them back. Gandapur and Bushra Bibi were reported to be in vehicles stationed near China Chowk during the clashes.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar urged party members to maintain peace and avoid destructive actions. Speaking to News Guru, he emphasized the party’s commitment to peaceful political struggle, cultivated over 27 years, and appealed to workers in Islamabad to remain calm. Gohar also called on the government to refrain from using force, expressing hope for the release of party founder Imran Khan.
Meanwhile, a PTI convoy led by Bushra Bibi reached D-Chowk after encountering significant resistance en route from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The situation escalated as law enforcement intensified tear gas shelling, while PTI workers retaliated by throwing stones.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reiterated the government’s focus on safeguarding the Red Zone, including D-Chowk. He assured that police had been granted full authority to manage the unrest while aiming to prevent casualties. Naqvi also expressed concerns over the protests posing risks to visiting foreign dignitaries, including the President of Belarus, who is currently in Islamabad for official meetings.
