Imran Khan's party suspends protest in Islamabad; at least four dead in overnight crackdown

Islamabad: Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's party on Wednesday formally suspended its protest here blaming the midnight crackdown by the authorities that left at least four dead and over 50 injured even as the PTI earlier claimed “hundreds” were killed in the violent clashes with security personnel.

Amid concerns about the whereabouts of Khan's wife Bushra Bibi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, – who were leading the march to Islamabad – the party said they were at Mansehra town, near Abbottabad, of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Authorities began reopening roads and cleaning all major thoroughfares vandalised during the three-day protest by Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.

The midnight crackdown forced Khan's supporters to evacuate the D-Chowk and its adjacent main business district of the capital, ending their protest, which his party described as a “massacre” under the “fascist military regime” even as police sources said about 450 protestors were arrested in the crackdown.

“In view of the government’s brutality and the government’s plan to turn the capital into a slaughterhouse for unarmed citizens, (we) announce the suspension of the peaceful protest for the time being,” Khan's PTI said in a press release shared on its official X account.

Future plans would be announced “in light of directions” from Khan after the party’s political and core committees presented their “analyses of the state brutality” to him.

The party statement also condemned the alleged “killing” and “terror and brutality against peaceful protesters in the name of an operation”.

The PTI urged the chief justice to take suo motu notice of the alleged “brutal murder of martyred (party) workers” and order legal action against the prime minister, interior minister and police chiefs of Islamabad and Punjab for “attempt to murder.” Meanwhile, Gandapur addressed the media in Mansehra later, and said that the protest “sit-in is still ongoing” and it would continue until called off by party founder Khan.

"Dharna is going on. Because it is only in the power of Imran Khan to end the protest…Dharna is a movement and it will continue… it will go on until reversed by Khan,” he said.

Earlier on Tuesday evening, PTI supporters battled law enforcement agencies and succeeded in reaching D-Chowk for a sit-in as part of their protest march that started on Sunday. Their clash with police killed at least six security personnel and injured dozens since Monday midnight.

Bushra Bibi and Gandapur had announced that the protesters would not go away until Khan, who had given the 'final call' for protest, was released from jail even as security personnel continued their efforts to move them from the D-Chowk, which is located close to several important government buildings: the Presidency, the PM Office, the Parliament, and the Supreme Court.

In the wee hours of Wednesday, police and Rangers launched an operation to clear the Blue Area business area, forcing the protesters to move away along with Bibi and Gandapur.

The 72-year-old former premier Khan, who has been in jail since August last year, issued a 'final call' on November 13 for nationwide protests on Sunday, denouncing what he termed as the stolen mandate, the unjust arrests of people and the passage of the 26th amendment, which he said has strengthened a “dictatorial regime”.

The clashes with security personnel left at least four dead. Polyclinic Hospital in Islamabad received two bodies and 26 gunshot wounds, while the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences reported two dead and 28 injured, Geo News reported.

Earlier, PTI, in reaction to the midnight crackdown, blamed the government for using violence and killing hundreds of its workers.

“A massacre has unfolded in Pakistan at the hands of security forces under the brutal, fascist military regime led by the Shehbaz-Zardari-Asim alliance. The nation is drowning in blood,” it said in a post on X referring to the ruling coalition headed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari and Gen Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

Building on the party's narrative, Gandapur claimed several PTI members were killed in the crackdown.

“We were going peacefully, talking peacefully, and in the end, the government came in our path and inflicted violence on us. Why were bullets rained down on us?” he asked.

The PTI alleged that the armed security forces launched a violent assault on PTI protesters, firing live rounds with the intent to kill as many people as possible.

“With hundreds dead and countless injured, the interior minister’s threat to kill and then the declaration of ‘victory’ over slaughtered innocents is enough evidence of the regime’s inhumanity,” it said in the post.

The party also shared videos and photos from the violent crackdown on its social media accounts.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi responded, dismissing the claims of deaths as an effort to cover up the failure of the protest.

“These people are looking for dead bodies, even visiting hospitals, but there is none,” he said.  

Separately, Information Minister Atta Tarar said that the Gandapur and other leaders ran away as their protest had failed. “No to hide their embarrassment, he is saying that people were killed when there is no evidence so far,” he said.

He added those injured were hit by the firing of the protestors.

Inspector General of Police Ali Nasir Rizvi said the protesters were armed and supported by Afghan nationals trained in sabotage. "We recovered 39 weapons," he said, adding that 27 Afghans, including 19 on Tuesday, were arrested.

He also announced that after December 31, no Afghan nationals would be allowed to stay in Islamabad without a no-objection certificate. Rizvi said that seven FIRs had been filed against protesters and their leaders for law violations and violence.

Earlier, addressing a press conference at D-Chowk after the midnight crackdown, Naqvi said Gandapur and Bushra Bibi had fled away, a claim echoed by Information Minister Tarar, who also mocked Khan's ‘final call’ for the protest and said: “Sadly I must say, this was not a final call but a missed call.” “You will not believe how they’ve run away from here. They’ve abandoned their cars, sandals and some even their clothes here,” he claimed.

He alleged that documents were also found detailing a plan to enter the Red Zone to attack parliament and government property and target state officials.

Meanwhile, life was turning to normal in Islamabad and neighbouring Rawalpindi as Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Memon directed all assistant commissioners to ensure the immediate reopening of all closed routes across the city.

In addition, the deputy commissioner also instructed that cleaning arrangements be made across all major thoroughfares.

According to motorway authorities, all motorways across the country have been reopened for traffic after four days of closure.

The aviation authorities said the PTI protest caused significant disruption in the flight operation as the main Srinagar Highway to the airport was blocked, with eight flights cancelled and 17 delayed due to protest.

Separately, the Pakistan stock exchange made a surprise recovery at the end of the protest and gained more than 3,000 points after crashing by 3,600 points on Tuesday.