Opposition party camps in Pakistani capital until ex-Premier Khan released

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - Thousands of supporters of Pakistan’s main opposition party camped in the capital Islamabad on Tuesday to seek the release of their jailed leader and former Prime Minister Imran Khan amid clashes with the security forces that have left several people dead in the past two days.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced that the protesters will not go beyond the capital’s famous “D Chowk” square that connects the President's House, Parliament House, the Supreme Court building, and Prime Minister's Office "until further orders" from Khan.

“Our leader has always taught us to stay peaceful. We will not go beyond the D Chowk (roundabout) until further orders from Imran Khan," chief minister of the PTI-governed Kyhber Pakhtunkhwa province, Ali Amin Gandapur, said while addressing the protesters in Islamabad.

The PTI launched its rallies from several parts of Pakistan since late Saturday, with the main convoy from Peshawar on Sunday, the capital of KP province, and finally entered Islamabad on Tuesday morning.

Videos posted on social media by Khan's supporters showed protesters celebrating their arrival at D-Chowk in the "Red Zone," the point of protest gathering announced by the PTI party on the third day of protests that began simultaneously across the country.

Earlier in the morning, the government called in the army to restore law and order following reports of clashes and violence at the capital's entrance.

Footage aired on local broadcaster Geo News showed police hurling teargas shells toward hundreds of protesters who managed to reach near Red Zone. The protesters, in return, pelted the police with stones.

The broadcaster reported that the police have dispersed over 200 PTI workers who managed to reach near Red Zone after clashes.

Khan's wife Bushra Bibi, who is leading the protest march along with the KP chief minister, urged the security forces to stop teargas shelling against the protesters.

In a video posted by the PTI on its official account, Bushra Bibi, veiled in a white scarf, could be heard urging the security forces to stop teargas shelling as the protesters are “completely peaceful.”

Islamabad Police Chief Nasir Rzivi warned that whoever enters the Red Zone will be arrested.

Local media has partially blacked out the protest march since Tuesday morning.