Supporters of jailed politician are demanding his release and opposing judicial reforms.
PTI media cell
A central convoy of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reached Islamabad's Chungi No. 26 on Monday amid escalating tensions. Police fired tear gas as protesters clashed with law enforcement, throwing stones from multiple directions, including Srinagar Highway.
Convoy led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and KP Chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi also arrived at the site, joining hundreds of party workers who had breached barriers despite heavy security.
Protesters hurled stones at police stationed on bridges, intensifying confrontations. "The situation is extremely critical," said a source on the ground, as Rangers were placed on high alert to contain the unrest.
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Supporters of jailed politician are demanding his release and opposing judicial reforms. Earlier, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar reiterated their resolve after meeting Khan in Adiala Jail.
“The call for protest is final. There is no question of calling it off,” Gohar told reporters.
Negotiations between PTI and the government are reportedly ongoing, but the situation on Islamabad's streets remains volatile.
PTI delegation visits Imran Khan in Adiala Jail for crucial talks
A Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf 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 Imran Khan to discuss ongoing protests and the government's negotiation offers.
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“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," sources added.Naqvi issues stern warning to protesters approaching D-Chowk
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi issued a stark warning to PTI protesters planning to march to D-Chowk, saying arrests are inevitable for anyone who reaches the area.
“Let me be clear: those who come to D-Chowk will be arrested. We won’t allow them to pass,” Naqvi said, addressing ongoing unrest.
He criticized PTI leaders for inciting violence, holding them accountable for recent attacks on law enforcement. “The officers’ deaths and injuries are on those who gave the call,” Naqvi said, adding that PTI supporters fired at security forces in Mianwali.
“If we had responded with gunfire, they wouldn’t have made it past Pather Garh. Not a single person would remain if firing continued for five minutes,” he said, noting police are armed only with batons and tear gas.
On negotiations, 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.”
Naqvi added that PTI's internal conflicts have hindered progress, suggesting clarity will emerge soon. “They need to answer, and then I’ll speak openly,” he said.- YouTubeyoutube.com
‘Will stand here until my last breath’
From atop a container addressing protesters, Bushra Bibi, Khan's wife, 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.
On Sunday, PTI supporters launched their march toward Islamabad’s D-Chowk, defying a security lockdown aimed at preventing their progress. The government had deployed shipping containers to block major roads and stationed police and paramilitary forces in riot gear, turning the capital into a fortress.
Police officer shot dead
In clashes just outside Islamabad, one police officer was shot and killed, and at least 70 others were injured, according to Punjab Information Minister Uzma Bukhari. Around 80 PTI activists were arrested, she added. Reports of violent confrontations also emerged from other parts, with PTI alleging that scores of its workers were injured.
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The protesters demand Imran Khan’s release, a reversal of February’s controversial election results, and the repeal of judicial reforms they deem undemocratic.
D-Chowk, a site symbolic of PTI’s historic 2014 sit-in, remains their ultimate destination.
Schools shut in twin cities amid unrest
All public and private schools in Islamabad and Rawalpindi will remain closed on Tuesday, November 26, due to the prevailing law and order situation.
Deputy Commissioner Hasan Waqar Cheema confirmed the closure, citing safety concerns. "In view of the current situation, it has been decided to keep all educational institutions closed tomorrow," he stated.
The All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association also supported the decision, announcing a day off for private schools in the twin cities.
Police files additional case against Imran
Meanwhile, Police filed an additional case against Imran Khan and several senior members of PTI, accusing them of disrupting public order and violating the law.
The case, registered at Rawalpindi’s Dhamial Police Station, includes anti-terrorism charges and 14 other provisions. Among those named in the complaint are former President Arif Alvi, former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, and PTI leaders Omar Ayub, Hammad Azhar, Aleema Khan, and Ali Amin Gandapur, along with nearly 200 others.
The first information report (FIR) alleges the accused blocked roads by burning tires, chanted provocative slogans, pelted stones at police officers, and fired live ammunition during protests. It further claims that Aleema Khan delivered a protest message on behalf of PTI founder Khan, while Bushra Bibi, his wife, incited people to take to the streets. Authorities said these actions disrupted peace despite the imposition of Section 144, which prohibits public gatherings.
As PTI’s march on the capital Islamabad continues, tensions have escalated, particularly at key choke points in Punjab province.
A supporter of the former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), looks from a prison van after he was detained during anti-government rally, in Lahore, Pakistan, November 24, 2024. Reuters
Clashes at Ghazi Barotha bridge
Violent clashes erupted at Ghazi Barotha Bridge, a critical gateway to Punjab province, where the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) forms the government. Police fired heavy tear gas to disperse protesters, but a PTI group led by opposition leader Umar Ayub managed to push back police contingents, allowing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Gandapur's convoy to break through the blockade.
The convoy, led by Gandapur, later merged with other protesters, stretching over two kilometers as it moved toward Islamabad’s D-Chowk, the site of parliament, the Supreme Court, and the Prime Minister’s Office.
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Tensions flare across Punjab
In Attock, protesters seized control of a bridge on the Hazara Motorway after removing containers placed by authorities. Police reported injuries to four officers due to stone-pelting, while demonstrators set two private vehicles ablaze.
Meanwhile, near Mianwali, police clashed with protesters attempting to advance on the strategic China-Pakistan Economic Corridor route. Demonstrators regrouped near Mehlu village, awaiting further instructions.
“Stock up supplies,” PTI leader warns
PTI leader Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif issued a warning to law enforcement. “The fake government should stock up supplies for the police. We are proceeding according to our plan. We are not in a hurry,” Saif said Monday.
Taking a swipe at the government’s roadblocks, Saif added, “The fake government is making tall claims that not many people came out to protest. But they have laid mountains of [shipping] containers [in Islamabad]. Containers from the entire country have reached Islamabad.”
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Rawalpindi lockdown
In Rawalpindi, clashes between PTI supporters and police disrupted life in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. At Faizabad Interchange, police arrested over 60 protesters, including Afghan nationals, some armed with slingshots and knives.
Key entry points to the twin cities, including Rawat, Mandrah, and Chakri, remain under heavy security. Schools in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Murree were closed Monday, with Section 144 still in effect. Metro bus services were suspended, and major roads, including Islamabad Expressway and Murree Road, were blocked.
Internet restrictions have also intensified. Global internet watchdog NetBlocks reported WhatsApp messaging services were restricted ahead of the protests.
During the march, Bushra Bibi, the wife of Imran Khan, urged protesters at Ghazi Barotha Bridge to stay resolute. “Stay in your vehicles; we must move forward,” she said. “We cannot return without securing Khan’s release.”
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—With additional input from Reuters.
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