Pakistani police have detained several thousand supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan following his call to march towards the country’s capital, the police said in a statement.
Islamabad was put under security lockdown on Sunday ahead of the protests by Imran Khan Supporters seeking his release.
The crucial highways and roads leading up to Islamabad have been blocked by the authorities to prevent Khan’s supporters from reaching a predefined destination.
Apart from the roads, mobile services, including internet services, have been shut down, and paramilitary forces have also been deployed to guard the country’s capital.
Meanwhile, the police have invoked all legal provisions to ban any sort of gatherings in and around the city.
Global internet watchdog NetBlocks, in their post on X, revealed that the metrics showed that WhatsApp messaging services had been restricted ahead of the protests.
A key Khan aid, Ali Amin Gandapur, who is the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and is expected to lead the largest convoy into Islamabad, asked supporters and people to gather near the entrance of the city's red zone, known as "D Chowk."
The red zone in Islamabad is one of the significant locations, as it houses not only the parliament building but some critical government installations, as well as foreign offices, institutions, and embassies.
Khan ally Gandapur said on Saturday, “Imran Khan has directed us to remain there till our demands are met.”
PTI demands the release of all detained leaders post-February 2024 elections, which were allegedly rigged. The party also seeks release of its founder, Imran Khan.
Khan has been in jail since August last year under multiple charges of corruption and instigation of violence in the country following his removal in 2022. The charges, which he and his party deny.
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