Pakistan Army deployed in Red Zone to manage anti-government protests
Three Rangers, two cops, and four civilians among dead
Scores of PTI workers arrested
Rangers paramilitary troops cleared Islamabad's central business district Blue Area of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protesters late Tuesday night, arresting several individuals during the operation.
Shops and markets in Aabpara area were shut, and vehicles were removed from nearby roads, including Khayaban-e-Suharwardy.
Blue Area, situated along the major thoroughfare Jinnah Avenue, which links to the Parliament and Supreme Court, has been fully cleared of "miscreants," a security source confirmed. The source added that no further operations were underway at the time.
Protests in the capital, sparked by demands for the release of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, have left at least nine people dead, including three Rangers, two police officers, and four civilians.
At the Poly Clinic Hospital, four civilian deaths were reported, with all victims having sustained bullet wounds. "Three were brought in dead, and one died at the hospital," a hospital official said.
Protesters faced intense tear gas shelling, impacting areas inside and outside the hospital. Residents near the protest site have also reported difficulty breathing.
While some demonstrators have started returning to their hometowns in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, citing poor facilities, many have pledged to regroup and continue their fight.
Security forces have pushed protesters nearly a kilometer back from high-security district D-Chowk, using tear gas and rubber bullets. Protesters retaliated with stones and by throwing back tear gas canisters.
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Meanwhile, the main container carrying Khan's wife Bushra Bibi and KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur from the northwestern province has been set on fire.
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Electricity on Jinnah Avenue has been cut, and authorities have sealed markets in Blue Area, Melody, and Aabpara, while clearing major entry points into the city.
The government had warned protesters against advancing further, while PTI supporters, who entered the capital late Sunday night, had vowed to stay until Khan is released from prison.
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“Some protesters tried to move past D-Chowk,” said PTI leader Atif Khan in an audio message released earlier today. “The military and Rangers fired at them. Three people have been injured in front of me,” he added.
Khan had called for supporters to reach D-Chowk but instructed them not to proceed further, he said. "Wait for Imran Khan's next plan," Atif urged, calling for restraint.
No talks with protesters, ministers say after clearing D-Chowk
Federal ministers Mohsin Naqvi and Atta Tarar announced that no negotiations will be held with PTI protesters after security forces cleared D-Chowk and pushed them two intersections back.
Addressing a joint press conference with Information Minister Atta Tarar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the government had taken decisive action. "They came here, and now they’ve seen that there will be no talks. The decision is final."
Naqvi criticized the violent tactics used by protesters. "Everyone saw how they acted. Their goal was to cause casualties, but we ensured the area was cleared without any loss of life," he said, adding that a “woman” was orchestrating the unrest, in an apparent reference to Bushra Bibi.
Minister Tarar displayed slingshots, marbles, and tear gas shells allegedly used by protesters. "They used poor children as human shields," he said. "Today, we beat them back and pushed them two intersections away."
Tarar accused Afghan nationals of participating in the protest. He also challenged PTI leaders, including Bushra Bibi, to lead from the front. "Don’t test the patience of the state. We’re standing firm at D-Chowk, ready to respond to any move," he said.
The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the rule of law, rejecting any possibility of deals or negotiations with PTI.
Khan calls more protesters to D-Chowk
Meanwhile, Khan has issued a call for more supporters to join protests in the capital, after a day of deadly clashes between marchers and security forces.
Khan issued a statement from his Adiala Jail cell that was posted on social media, saying "those who haven't yet joined the protest must also head to D-Chowk", referring to the public square marchers are attempting to occupy.
Earlier, police anti-riot and anti-terrorist squads, equipped with gear, fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters, who responded by pelting stones and returning tear gas shells.
The government has repeatedly warned the demonstrators not to advance further.
The protesters, en route since Sunday, entered the federal capital late last night and continued their journey this morning, facing intense confrontations at G10, G11, and Zero Point along the way.
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The 2-kilometer-long convoy was being led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Bushra Bibi.
Islamabad remained under lockdown as the protests coincided with a three-day visit by Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko. The visiting leader is engaged in high-level meetings in the red zone, where D-Chowk is located.
The army was deployed to ensure the security of the red zone.
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Pakistan Army deployed to manage anti-government protests
The Pakistan Army was deployed to assist the civil administration in managing anti-government protests after overnight clashes in the capital resulted in mass arrests and casualties among security officials, the Interior Ministry said Tuesday.
The deployment falls under Article 245 of the Constitution, which authorizes the federal government to request military assistance in maintaining law and order.
At least four paramilitary Rangers troops were killed when a car rammed into them on Srinagar Highway, a key east-west artery in Islamabad, the Interior Ministry said. Several other police and Rangers personnel were also injured, the ministry further said.
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US urges restraint
The United States urged Pakistani authorities to respect PTI's right to protest peacefully, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Tuesday at a press briefing.
“In Pakistan and around the world, we support freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association,” the spokesperson said when he was asked to comment on the situation in Pakistan.
“We call on protesters to demonstrate peacefully and refrain from violence, and at the same time, we call on Pakistani authorities to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to ensure respect for Pakistan’s laws and constitution, as they work to maintain law and order,” he added.
Negotiations ongoing
Negotiations between PTI and the government are reportedly ongoing.
A PTI delegation, led by Barrister Gohar, made a late-night visit to Adiala Jail on Monday, sources revealed.
The delegation, under tight police security, spent over an hour with PTI founder Khan to discuss ongoing protests and the government's negotiation offers.
“The team discussed the protest's future course and deliberated on whether to continue or call off the demonstrations,” a party insider said.
The PTI leaders visited the jail shortly after holding discussions with the government’s negotiation committee. "The final decision rests with our chairman," the sources added.
Nukta
A PTI supporter in Islamabad holding a handmade slingshot to hurl stones at law enforcers
Interior Minister Naqvi dismissed speculation of talks with PTI. “Let’s be clear—there are no negotiations. Our priority is saving lives,” he said. “We’re focused on protecting people, including our own officers.”
Also on Monday, from atop a container addressing protesters, Bushra Bibi declared her commitment to the cause: "I will stand here until my last breath, and you must stand with me." She called on supporters to remain steadfast, framing the protest as a broader fight for justice.
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