Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), suspended street protests demanding his release from jail following a midnight raid by security forces in Islamabad. The protest saw at least six people, including four paramilitary soldiers and two protesters, killed. The significant raid dispersed the gathering of protesters in the central area of Islamabad by using tear gas and turning off lights.
Thousands of protesters, led by Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi, had converged in Islamabad before the raid. The red zone, which is usually heavily fortified, was left empty of protesters the following morning as city workers cleaned up debris left behind.
PTI had intended to stage a sit-in protest in the red zone until Imran Khan’s release, who has been in jail since August last year. However, PTI’s city president for Peshawar announced the suspension of the protest and stated that a new strategy would be decided upon after consultation.
Overall, the protest demanding Imran Khan’s release was temporarily halted following the violent raid by security forces in Islamabad. The chaos led to casualties and the dispersal of protesters, leaving the heavily fortified red zone empty. Plans for future protests and strategies are being discussed by PTI officials.
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