Pakistan ends lockdown of its capital after dispersing Imran Khan supporters

ISLAMABAD — Authorities reopened roads linking Pakistan’s capital with the remainder of the nation, ending a four-day lockdown, on Wednesday after utilizing tear gasoline and firing into the air to disperse supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan who marched to Islamabad to demand his launch from jail.

“All roads are being reopened, and the demonstrators have been dispersed,” Inside Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated.

Khan’s spouse, Bushra Bibi, who was main the protest, and different demonstrators fled in automobiles when police pushed again towards the rallygoers following clashes by which no less than seven individuals had been killed.

Visitors law enforcement officials take away a broken car left behind by supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf celebration, when safety forces launched an operation Tuesday night time to disperse them, in Islamabad, Pakistan on Wednesday.

Anjum Naveed/AP

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Anjum Naveed/AP

The police operation got here hours after hundreds of Khan supporters, defying authorities warnings, broke via a barrier of transport containers blockading Islamabad and entered a high-security zone, the place they clashed with safety forces.

Stress has been excessive in Islamabad since Sunday when supporters of the previous prime minister started a “long march” from the restive northwest to demand his launch. Khan has been in a jail for over a 12 months and faces greater than 150 felony circumstances that his celebration says are politically motivated.

Lots of of demonstrators have been arrested since Sunday.

Bibi and leaders of her husband’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf celebration fled to Mansehra in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the place the celebration nonetheless guidelines.

Khan, who stays a preferred opposition determine, was ousted in 2022 via a no-confidence vote in Parliament.