Thousands of individuals supporting Imran Khan have been apprehended by law enforcement as the capital of Pakistan remains under strict lockdown in anticipation of a demonstration advocating for the release of the imprisoned former prime minister and the resignation of the current administration.
Shahid Nawaz, a security official from the eastern Punjab province, reported on Monday that police have already taken into custody over 4,000 supporters of Khan, which includes five members of parliament. During a press briefing, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated that authorities would continue to detain additional supporters of Khan if they attempt to enter Islamabad’s Red Zone, an area that has been cordoned off to safeguard government facilities.
“Anyone who approaches this area will be apprehended,” he declared.
Naqvi explained that these security protocols are intended to ensure the safety of residents and their property, attributing the disruption to the activities of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, which he claimed has caused inconvenience to the public and local businesses. Earlier on Monday, numerous supporters of Khan commenced their march towards Islamabad, reaching the outskirts of the capital, as reported by officials and members of his party.
Videos shared on social media depicted Khan’s supporters energizing the crowd and encouraging them to proceed forward. Large convoys consisting of hundreds of vehicles were also observed.
In Peshawar, Khan’s backers were in high spirits, with PTI members engaging in dance, playing drums, and displaying images of their leader as vehicles departed for Islamabad.
According to PTI, Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, along with key aide Ali Amin Gandapur, who serves as the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, is spearheading a rally that reached the outskirts of Islamabad on Sunday night. Despite being incarcerated for over a year and facing more than 150 criminal charges, Khan continues to enjoy significant popularity, with his party asserting that the charges are politically motivated.
Authorities have cordoned off Islamabad using shipping containers since Saturday, effectively closing major roads and highways that link the city to PTI strongholds in Punjab and the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This measure aims to prevent supporters of Khan from reaching the capital.
Khan has characterized the upcoming protest march as the “final call,” part of a series of demonstrations organized by his party to advocate for his release. Previous protests in Islamabad earlier this month escalated into violence.
In a related development, Pakistan implemented a communications blackout on Sunday, suspending mobile and internet services in areas deemed to have security concerns.
However, Interior Minister Naqvi refuted claims of a complete suspension of mobile services, clarifying that only mobile data was impacted.
In the meantime, the telecom provider Nayatel has reached out to customers via email, promoting “a reliable landline service” as an alternative for those affected by the mobile service disruptions. Khan’s supporters heavily depend on social media to mobilize support for his release and utilize messaging applications like WhatsApp to disseminate information regarding events.
The government is enforcing restrictions on social media and targeting virtual private network (VPN) services, as reported by the internet advocacy organization Netblocks.
The United States Embassy in Islamabad has issued a security advisory for American citizens in the capital, urging them to steer clear of large gatherings and cautioning that even “peaceful gatherings can turn violent.”
Khan was ousted from power by parliament in 2022 following a rift with Pakistan’s influential military, which plays a significant role in the country’s politics and largely determines who governs the South Asian nation of 241 million.
