The frantic escape by party leaders during a security crackdown could hurt the PTI. But the government faces questions too, analysts say. By Abid Hussain
Islamabad, Pakistan – When a convoy of thousands of supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party arrived in Islamabad on Monday night to rally behind their imprisoned leader, former Prime Minister Imran Khan, they were urged by Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, to stay until his release was secured.
However, within 24 hours, a late night raid by security forces on Tuesday dispersed the crowd, reportedly resulting in casualties among both PTI protesters and law enforcement personnel. The operation, which began just before midnight, was conducted under a power blackout in central Islamabad, less than 3km (2 miles) from D-Chowk, the public square marking the boundary of the capital’s Red Zone, where many government buildings are located.
Bushra Bibi and Ali Amin Gandapur, the PTI chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, retreated to the northwestern province under the cover of darkness as the operation commenced and security forces used tear gas to disperse the crowd. By Wednesday morning, PTI issued a statement announcing it was calling off the protest “for the time being”. The PTI convoys had moved from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into Islamabad, defying court orders banning their entry into the city, to pressure the government on three demands: reclaiming what the party calls its “stolen mandate” from the February elections, the release of political prisoners including Khan and the reversal of a constitutional amendment granting the government control over judicial appointments.
By the time the protesters left, it was the PTI’s leadership that was under pressure, analysts said. None of the party’s demands had been met, and there was little clarity on how the organisation would regroup. “This protest was framed as their ‘final call’, but for it to collapse like this is a major blow to their political strategy,” political analyst Zaigham Khan told Al Jazeera.
The operation by police and paramilitary rangers has led to conflicting reports about fatalities. The PTI said eight of its supporters were killed while the government denied using live ammunition and insisted no protesters died. Officials reported that three rangers were killed in a hit-and-run incident involving a PTI convoy on Monday while a police constable died in clashes with party supporters. This was the PTI’s fourth protest in four months with previous rallies, including one in October, ending prematurely.
On Wednesday afternoon, Gandapur held a news conference in Mansehra city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, condemning the government’s crackdown on PTI workers and indicating that the party would continue to press its demands. The PTI has been in protest mode since Imran Khan’s government was ousted through a parliamentary vote of no confidence in April 2022. Although its candidates won the most seats in February’s elections, the party failed to form a government and claimed its mandate had been stolen. Imran Khan has been in jail since August 2023 and faces numerous charges, including corruption and treason. Bushra Bibi was also imprisoned for nine months on corruption charges before securing bail in October..Source.aljazeera.com/news
Monday, May 4, 2026
