Pakistan Protests Turn Violent as Officer Killed, Dozens of People Injured

Protests in Pakistan turned violent this week as one police officer was killed and dozens of other people were injured.

Tear Gas Used Against Protesters

Pakistani police on Monday used tear gas to disperse supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan as they attempted to enter the capital for a planned sit-in demanding his release, according to officials.

The tear gas deployment followed the arrival of demonstrators who had traveled 150 kilometers (93 miles) from Pakistan's restive northwest to gather near Islamabad. The protesters defied a citywide lockdown, prior tear gas assaults, mass arrests and a ban on rallies in the capital.

One Officer Killed

At least one police officer was killed, while multiple officers and demonstrators were injured during the clashes, authorities reported. Despite the violence, protesters remained resolute in their efforts to enter Islamabad, where a two-day lockdown has already disrupted daily life.

Supporters of former premier Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party are seen protesting in Pakistan. On November 25, 2024 protests in Pakistan turned violent as one police officer was killed and dozens of other individuals were... AP Photo/Maaz Awan/AP Photo/Maaz Awan

The Protests in Pakistan

The escalation unfolded as leaders of Imran Khan's party pressed forward with the "long march" coinciding with the arrival of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko for a three-day visit. Lukashenko was welcomed at an airport near Islamabad by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday evening.

Government officials confirmed ongoing negotiations with Khan's party in an effort to prevent further violence.

Despite spending over a year behind bars and facing more than 150 criminal charges, Khan remains a widely popular figure. His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), maintains that the cases against him are politically driven.

A convoy of vehicles carrying protesters was anticipated to reach the capital by Monday night. Security officials estimated the crowd size at 9,000 to 11,000, but leaders of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party predicted significantly higher turnout.

Movement between Islamabad and other cities has come to a near standstill with ambulances and cars forced to turn back along key routes. In Punjab province, authorities used shipping containers to block sections of the Grand Trunk Road, a major highway.

"We are determined, and we will reach Islamabad, though police are using tear gas to stop our march," PTI senior leader Kamran Bangash said during an interview with The Associated Press. "We will overcome all hurdles one by one, and our supporters are removing shipping containers from roads."

Bangash added that Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi—recently granted bail in a corruption case—will co-lead the march alongside Ali Amin Gandapur, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province where Khan's party still holds power.

Roughly 50 kilometers (30 miles) outside Islamabad, Bushra Bibi, clad in a full-length white burqa, addressed protesters from atop a truck. She urged them to stay resolute in their efforts to secure Khan's release. After leading chants of "God is great," she departed.

Khan's chief political rival, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, currently leads the government.

On Sunday night, protesters set trees ablaze as police deployed tear gas to disperse the crowds. Supporters of Khan responded with slingshots and hurled rocks at security forces.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.