After violent clashes with security forces that left at least six people dead earlier in the day, thousands of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protestors have forced their way into Islamabad and seized Zero Point ‘D-Chowk,’ where they plan to stage an indefinite sit-in until their leader, former Prime Minister Imran Khan, is released from jail.
Violence continues to erupt across the capital as security forces struggle to contain the unrest. Bushra Bibi, the wife of Imran Khan and the rally’s driving force, has urged party workers and supporters to maintain their grip on the sensitive location.
Addressing a massive crowd at Jinnah Avenue, Bushra Bibi took an oath from the supporters, pledging to stay at the site until her husband’s release. “Promise me that we will not leave D-Chowk until Imran Khan is released and stands here among us. If anyone claims I have left, know that it is a lie,” she said.
“I appeal to the people of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to join us. Do not leave D-Chowk, even if we face a shortage of food and water. We will stay here for as long as it takes,” she added, cautioning protestors not to trust any statements allegedly made by Imran Khan from Adiala Jail.
“Our plan will not change until Imran Khan comes out and tells us what to do next. No matter the pressure, wait for him to address us directly,” she insisted.
Meanwhile, the government has warned of “extreme measures” to protect the capital from what it described as “mob attacks.”
“We have called in the Pakistan Army to secure the Red Zone. I want to warn PTI again not to test our patience. We are exercising extreme caution and refraining from using force against PTI miscreants to avoid loss of life and bloodshed. However, our forces have been attacked with gunfire and direct assaults, leading to the martyrdom of police and ranger personnel,” said Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar.
“PTI wants to see dead bodies to play its dirty politics and is exploiting innocent lives to further its evil agenda. We will not allow this chaos to continue for too long,” he added.
Despite the government’s warnings, PTI leadership remains in contact with Imran Khan, seeking his input on backdoor negotiations with the government. However, Bushra Bibi has reiterated that the protest will not end until Khan is released.
Analysts suggest that Bushra Bibi has emerged as the central decision-maker in the PTI, overshadowing senior leaders like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.
(Inputs from IANS)