Violence in Islamabad: After six people are killed in a "do-or-die" demonstration, Pakistan conducts a "midnight raid" to expel Imran Khan supporters

Violence in Islamabad: Pakistani security forces launched an operation to drive Imran Khan's followers out of the city. Two PTI supporters and four security guards were slain during a "do-or-die" demonstration in which thousands of people demanded Khan's release.

Violence in Islamabad: On Tuesday, Pakistani security forces conducted a midnight operation to scatter thousands of people who had gathered in Islamabad to call for the release of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Tear gas, gunfire, and mass arrests were used in conflicts with officials as the demonstrators broke through barricades and entered the high-security Red Zone.

Four security guards and two PTI supporters were killed Tuesday as the rallies by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf party, which is calling for the release of its leader Imran Khan, turned violent, according to the Dawn.

Following hours of conflict, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated that the Red Zone, which contains government buildings and embassies, has been cleared. The military is in charge of D-Chowk, where Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is now living, and the region is still under strict surveillance.

PTI's Demand for Demonstrations and Bloody Battles

Since supporters of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party started a "long march" from the northwest on Sunday to demand the leader's release, tensions in Islamabad have been building.

Under the direction of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, the Tehreek-e-Insaaf rally reached Islamabad on Tuesday, signaling the beginning of a major "do-or-die" demonstration calling for the release of PTI founder and national leader Imran Khan from prison, according to ARY News.

More than 150 criminal allegations against Imran Khan, who has been in jail for more than a year, are allegedly politically motivated, according to the PTI.

Imran Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, spearheaded the protests but rushed away when security arrived. Police and protesters engaged in violent altercations, with some protesters vowing to remain until Khan was released. PTI supporter Shahzor Ali threatened, "We will respond with bullets if they fire them again."

Numerous people have died as a result of the protest-related violence. A car crashed into a crowd, killing six people, including four security guards, and another event claimed the life of a police officer.

Crackdown by the Pakistani Government on Imran Khan's PTI
Since Friday, authorities have suspended internet and mobile services in several regions of the nation and arrested around 4,000 PTI sympathizers. Even with VPNs, access to X (previously Twitter) has been restricted, and platforms like WhatsApp, which are essential to PTI's communication strategy, have been badly affected.

The crackdown is not only about making arrests. Public gatherings in Islamabad were prohibited by a court last week, and shipping containers are currently obstructing important routes leading into the capital, making travel difficult. Despite the pandemonium, schools are still shuttered.

The Economic Repercussions of Pakistan's Political Crisis
Pakistan's economic problems have been exacerbated by the political unrest. Due to investor apprehension, the Pakistan Stock Exchange saw a loss of more than $1.7 billion on Tuesday. "An already fragile economy is devastated by rising political tensions," Topline Securities economist Mohammed Sohail warned.

The Economic Repercussions of Pakistan's Political Crisis
Pakistan's economic problems have been exacerbated by the political unrest. Due to investor apprehension, the Pakistan Stock Exchange saw a loss of more than $1.7 billion on Tuesday. "An already fragile economy is devastated by rising political tensions," Topline Securities economist Mohammed Sohail warned.

PTI's Defiance Under Imran Khan Amid Increasing Tensions
Protesters carrying PTI banners and screaming slogans made their way to the Red Zone on Tuesday in spite of government warnings. Khan's party turned down an invitation to hold a rally on the outskirts of the city, according to Naqvi.