Pakistan Protest: 6 killed as protests by Imran Khan supporters turn violent; shoot at sight orders for army

Pakistan PTI Rally: According to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, hundreds of Imran Khan’s followers had been arrested across the country from multiple cities in the protests and skirmishes.

By: Express Web Desk

Updated: November 27, 2024 09:58 AM IST

2 min read

Supporters of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, run for cover as police fire tear gas shell to disperse them during clashes, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP photo)

PTI Rally in Islamabad: Six people including four paramilitary personnel and two policemen have been killed, and over 100 security personnel injured Tuesday as the protest by supporters of Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister Imran Khan turned violent.

The situation, spiraling out of administrative control, prompted the government to deploy the army in the national capital along with “shoot at sight” orders on Tuesday, state-run media said.

The escalation of violence comes after protesters, the suporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) supporters have began demanding the release of ex-PM Imran Khan, entered Islamabad on Monday defying efforts by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government to stifle the nationwide demonstrations.

Local media reported that four rangers died when a vehicle from PTI’s protest rally rammed into security personnel on duty. The Nation reported that five others, including Rangers and police officers, were critically injured.

Supporters of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, burn bushes to reduce the impact of tear gas shells fired by police officers to disperse them during a rally demanding Khan’s release, at a motorway in Ghazi in Attock district, Pakistan. (AP)

The Pakistan Army has been deployed to curb the protests under the Article 245 and has been ordered to “shoot on sight”. Zulfi Bukhari, a spokesperson for PTI, said one of the marchers was killed and 20 others were wounded as the authorities confronted the protesters.

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The Pakistani authorities have not commented upon the statement by Bukhari but blamed the turmoil on the supporters of PTI and added that a police officer also died while more than 119 have been injured in violent protests.

According to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, hundreds of Imran Khan’s followers had been arrested across the country from multiple cities in protests and skirmishes.

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