Break it up: A policeman firing tear gas shells to disperse protesters in Lahore. — AFP
THE country’s capital was locked down, swarmed by security forces with mobile Internet cut as supporters of jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan attempted to seize the streets in protest.
Sidelined by dozens of legal cases, Imran was barred from standing in the February elections that were marred by allegations of rigging.
But his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has defied a crackdown to needle the government with regular demonstrations.
Activists began driving to Islamabad on Friday from his powerbase in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but were met with shipping container roadblocks and volleys of tear gas.
On Saturday, small and scattered convoys pressed in on Islamabad in defiance of the government, which approved troops for deployment on the streets – citing the need to guarantee security ahead of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit due to open on Oct 15.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi later told local media that more than 550 people were arrested.
Protests were also due in Lahore.
In anticipation, the main motorway linking the eastern megacity to the capital was blocked.
“I am so proud of all our people,” said a message from Imran posted on social media site X on Saturday afternoon.
“You showed unfaltering resilience and courage as you came out yesterday and overcame unbelievable obstacles.”
Amnesty International said the communications cuts and road blockades “infringe on people’s right to freedom of expression, access to information, peaceful assembly and movement”.
“These restrictions are part of a worrying clampdown on the right to protest in Pakistan,” the rights group said.
The social media site X – formerly Twitter – has also been blocked across Pakistan since after the election, when mobile Internet was likewise cut on polling day and PTI alleged widespread vote tampering took place.
Imran served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, when he was ousted in a parliamentary no-confidence vote after falling out with the powerful military establishment considered Pakistan’s political kingmakers.
As opposition leader he led an unprecedented campaign of defiance before becoming tangled in slews of court cases he claims have been orchestrated to prevent his return to power. — AFP
