ISLAMABAD: As PTI protesters gathered at Islamabad’s D-Chowk, intense tear gas shelling ensued as security forces moved to control the situation amid a deadlock in negotiations between the government and the opposition.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned what he described as an “attack by protesters,” while the interior minister confirmed the deaths of at least four security personnel during the clashes.
The standoff comes as PTI convoys, traveling across the country since Sunday, converged on the capital for a major demonstration demanding the release of party founder Imran Khan and other concessions.
Protesters were seen near D-Chowk, scaling containers placed by authorities to block their path. Army personnel were also stationed atop the barriers, maintaining a strong presence.
D-Chowk, located in Islamabad’s high-security Red Zone, has long been a focal point for political demonstrations. The area provides access to key government buildings, including the Parliament House, the Supreme Court, the Pakistan Secretariat, and the Prime Minister’s Office.
Amid the unrest, reports emerged of a possible “back-channel” dialogue between the government and PTI. Naqvi, a senior official, acknowledged late Monday that the government had proposed Sangjani, the same venue where PTI held its rally on September 8, as an alternative protest site.
Media reports suggested that PTI leaders were attempting to persuade Bushra Bibi, Imran Khan’s wife and leader of the main caravan from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to accept the venue change. Police sources estimated the convoy from KP included over 34,000 participants.
The protests follow a “final call” issued by Imran Khan on November 13 for nationwide demonstrations on November 24. Khan demanded the restoration of PTI’s electoral mandate, the release of detained party members, and the reversal of the 26th Amendment, which he claimed had bolstered a “dictatorial regime.”
