Islamabad, Nov 27 (V7N)— Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, has been engulfed in unrest as supporters of former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan continue to clash with security forces. The protests, demanding Khan's release from prison, have turned parts of the city into a battleground.

Clashes at the city’s entrances have led to multiple casualties. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed the deaths of several security personnel, while PTI accused the government of spreading false propaganda. Reports also suggest that at least one protester and an additional police officer were killed, though conflicting accounts make it difficult to confirm exact figures.

Over 500 PTI activists have been arrested in Islamabad, with thousands detained nationwide since the protests began. Police have resorted to firing tear gas and arresting demonstrators en masse, with orders to take strict measures, including firing on sight in cases of rioting.

PTI supporters, led by key leaders such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, have been defying government-imposed restrictions, including Section 144, which bans public gatherings. The protesters have converged on Faisal Avenue, approximately six kilometres from the iconic D-Chowk in Islamabad's Red Zone.

The government had blocked major roads with shipping containers and deployed 1,000 additional police officers, along with military forces, to key areas. Despite these measures, protesters breached barriers and continued advancing toward the capital's core.

The unrest is compounding Pakistan's already fragile economic situation. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar reported that the unrest is costing the country ₹14,000 crore daily. Pakistan has been relying on financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to stabilize its economy, but the ongoing conflict has presented a significant obstacle to recovery efforts.

Imran Khan, ousted from office in 2022 via a no-confidence motion, has been in prison for over a year following his conviction in a corruption case. PTI insists the 150-plus cases against him are politically motivated. However, the Sharif government maintains that only the courts can decide his fate.

The Sharif administration has refused to negotiate with PTI, offering alternative protest sites, which were rejected. Authorities have deployed military forces under Article 245 of the Constitution to maintain order in Islamabad. Internet services remain disrupted, and educational institutions are closed in several areas.

The United Nations has expressed concern over the escalating violence, urging restraint from all parties. Meanwhile, international observers warn that the unrest could destabilize the region further.

With PTI supporters showing no signs of backing down and the government maintaining its hardline stance, Islamabad remains tense. The protests signify a growing political divide in Pakistan, with both sides seemingly unwilling to compromise.

END/RH/AJ