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 during which at the least seven individuals had been killed.
The police operation got here hours after 1000’s of Khan supporters, defying authorities warnings, broke by way of a barrier of transport containers blocking off Islamabad and entered a high-security zone, the place they clashed with safety forces.
Pressure has been excessive in Islamabad since Sunday when supporters of the previous prime minister started a “lengthy 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 social gathering says are politically motivated.
Tons of of demonstrators have been arrested since Sunday.
Bibi and leaders of her husband’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf social gathering fled to Mansehra in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the place the social gathering nonetheless guidelines.
Khan, who stays a well-liked opposition determine, was ousted in 2022 by way of a no-confidence vote in Parliament.
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