Several policemen injured in scuffle, one dies
PTI convoys led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Opposition Leader, Omar Ayub, entered Islamabad on the call of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan.
The convoys, originating from the Hazara Interchange, are heading towards D-Chowk in Islamabad.
As the convoys advanced, they encountered heavy resistance from the police at the Ghazi Brotha Bridge, where intense shelling was reported.
Despite the police crackdown, Omar Ayub’s convoy managed to push back Punjab Police forces at the Hazara Interchange. Ali Amin Gandapur, who is leading the Hazara Division convoy, played a crucial role in helping the convoy
break through the police barricades.
After overcoming the police blockade, the convoys continued their journey, with vehicles stretching over two kilometers as they moved forward. On the Hazara Motorway, PTI supporters successfully forced police to retreat, with reports of violent clashes and heavy stone-pelting.
Several police personnel were injured in the scuffles, and two officers were severely wounded and transferred to hospitals.
Among the injured officers were DSPs Chaudhry Zulfiqar and Shahid Gilani, as well as ASI Tabassum. DSP Zulfiqar suffered significant injuries to his back and legs during the confrontation.
A police constable has died from severe injuries, and over 70 officers were injured during violent clashes with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protesters in Islamabad.
Constable Mubashir, 46, succumbed to head injuries after PTI protesters allegedly attacked police personnel near Hakla. The injured officer was rushed to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Hassan Abdal, where he was later pronounced dead. Mubashir is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son.
The PTI gave its final call for the protest to meet its four demands: release of all political prisoners, including Imran Khan, reversal of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, restoration of democracy and Constitution in the country and return of allegedly “stolen mandate”.
The demands surfaced on November 13 after Imran had urged people via a post on X, formerly Twitter, to reach Islamabad and not to return until those were met. The PTI had said that its rallies would be converted into a sit-in in the federal capital and end only when the demands were met.
Since then, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led government, backed by a recent order of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), has been stating that neither the protestors would be allowed to enter the capital nor any leniency would be shown to them this time around.
In anticipation of a possible head-on collision between the authorities and the protesters and in view of the visit by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, the government decided to place containers to block all the main arteries leading to Islamabad.
The blockade has brought the twin cities as well as several other cities in Punjab to a standstill. A surprising decision was the sudden beginning of the repair work on different motorways. Besides, the government also shut down the internet in several areas.
The interior ministry had already announced a day ago that WiFi and mobile internet services would be suspended in areas with “security concerns” but it would remain operational in the rest of the country. Nevertheless, internet tracking monitor Netblocks said WhatsApp backends were restricted in Pakistan.
The decision was part of the government’s strategy to block communication ahead of the planned protests. Amid this, both sides remained steadfast, refusing to back down until achieving their objectives.
