Imran Khan’s Party Ends Protest in Pakistan After Brutal Crackdown

Islamabad: The protest organized by Imran Khan’s opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in the capital Islamabad came to an end on Wednesday after a violent government crackdown. The government arrested hundreds of PTI supporters in an overnight operation, and law enforcement cleared the main protest area, signaling the end of the demonstrations that had been ongoing for the past two days.

Details of the Crackdown:
The interior ministry confirmed early Wednesday that law enforcement forces had cleared the main avenue in Islamabad where the protests were concentrated. Top PTI leaders, including Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi and senior leader Ali Amin Gandapur, who were leading the protest, managed to escape the area before authorities moved in.

PTI’s Response:
In a message, Atif Khan, a lawmaker from PTI, confirmed that the party had called off the protest after the government’s “brutal action.” The protest had begun on Sunday and escalated into violent clashes with the police, resulting in at least six deaths, including four security personnel.

Context of the Protest:
The protests were sparked by demands for the release of Imran Khan, the former prime minister and cricket star, who is currently incarcerated on charges of corruption and misuse of power. Khan faces more than 150 criminal cases from his tenure as prime minister from 2018 to 2022.

Protest and Clashes:
The PTI supporters breached roadblocks and clashed with police as they gathered near the Red Zone, a high-security area of the capital. The protest was framed as the largest political challenge for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government since it took power in February 2024, after national elections. The demonstrators had vowed to stage a sit-in until their demand for Khan’s release was met.

Government’s Response:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had criticized the protests, calling them a distraction from his government’s focus on economic reforms. Sharif’s coalition government is currently grappling with Pakistan’s weak economy and is negotiating with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a new loan program, which has involved tough measures such as taxing the agriculture and retail sectors, both of which have historically resisted such efforts.

Ongoing Operations:
The search operation to detain remaining protesters is still underway, and according to the Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, all barricades in the main protest area will be removed by Wednesday.