Pakistan: Army Deployed As PTI Protests Bring Islamabad, Lahore To Standstill Pushing For Imran Khan’s Release

Pakistan News: PTI supporters gathered in Islamabad and Lahore, demanding Imran Khan's release and protesting inflation. Clashes occurred with police in both cities, leading to tear gas shelling.

Pakistan News: A tense situation unfolded in Islamabad with the deployment of Pakistani army personnel, as supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan, leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), gathered at D-Chowk in the heart of the capital. The demonstrators sought to register a symbolic victory while demanding Khan's release from Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, where he has been incarcerated for over a year. They were also calling for the independence of the judiciary and protesting against rising inflation.

In both Islamabad and Lahore, PTI supporters clashed with the police, news agency Press Trust of India reported. In Lahore, PTI workers attempted to march towards Minar-e-Pakistan, describing the situation as a "do or die" moment. Throughout the day, police forces lobbed tear gas shells to prevent demonstrators from reaching D-Chowk, but a change in wind direction, aided by rain, redirected the smoke towards law enforcement officers, enabling protestors to reach the venue later in the evening. By 9 pm, it remained unclear whether the protestors would continue to occupy the site or disperse.

The PTI had organised the rally upon Khan’s call, with party workers demanding his release, Press Trust of India's report stated. Speaking about the plan in Lahore, the party's Punjab acting president, Hammad Azhar, stated that they intended to celebrate Khan’s birthday and pass a resolution for "Haqeeqi Azadi" (real freedom) at the Minar-e-Pakistan ground. According to the PTI party, over 700 of their workers were detained by the Punjab government in Lahore and other regions over the course of two days.

Earlier in the day, Khan had posted a lengthy message on X (formerly Twitter), urging his followers to march towards D-Chowk in Islamabad and gather in Lahore. "I am so proud of all our people. Thank you for keeping the faith. You showed unfaltering resilience and courage as you came out yesterday & overcame unbelievable obstacles to keep marching forward towards D-Chowk," he wrote.

Pakistan: PTI Protests Brought Life To Standstill In Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore For Second Consecutive Day

Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court instructed the Pakistan government to halt any unlawful protests in the capital during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, which is set to take place on October 15-16. The court also directed that a designated protest site be allocated for PTI demonstrators.

The protests brought life to a standstill in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Lahore for a second consecutive day, with mobile networks shut down and major roads and entry points blocked to maintain order. As tensions escalated, the authorities called in the Pakistan army to Islamabad and Lahore to prevent the rallies. The army is expected to remain in the capital from October 5-17 to ensure peace during the SCO summit, officials confirmed.

In Islamabad, PTI supporters led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur were on their way to D-Chowk. After being stopped on Friday, Gandapur eventually reached near the capital on Saturday, and though conflicting reports emerged about his whereabouts, he was seen heading to D-Chowk with a few vehicles.

Muhammad Ali Saif, an advisor to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Information, told Geo News, "From D-Chowk, he left for the KP House, where he had lunch and met some party leaders." Saif added that Rangers later circled the Chief Minister’s House, and all communication with Gandapur was lost, leading to confusion about whether he had been arrested or simply taken into custody. No official confirmation of his arrest had been issued.

Despite Pak government requests to postpone the rally, Imran Khan refused, and strict measures were implemented to block PTI supporters from entering Islamabad. Highways to the city were barricaded, pillion riding was banned, and prohibitory orders were enforced to prevent public gatherings. Metro bus services between Islamabad and Rawalpindi were also suspended.

In Lahore, the situation was equally tense, with the provincial government calling in the Pakistan army to manage law and order. Authorities blocked all entry and exit points of the city, placing hundreds of containers across Lahore. A curfew-like atmosphere surrounded the Minar-e-Pakistan, which was closed to the public indefinitely. The army was deployed to ensure no rally took place in the city.

Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, during a press conference in Lahore, strongly criticised the PTI’s protests. "We will not tolerate PTI's anti-Pakistan protest," he said, accusing the party of attempting to sabotage the upcoming SCO summit, which the Pakistan government was determined to safeguard, as per the report.