Imran Khan's Supporters Break Through Defenses in Islamabad, Army Called Riding the Crest of Event

 On Tuesday thousands poured into the bustling capital of Pakistan for a tremendous rally by Imran Khan's supporters against the deprivation of freedom by the earlier prime minister, accompanied by heavy showers of teargas and rubber bullets. Asking the invocation of article 245 of the constitution concerning Pakistan, the government justified itself by taking the army under the authority to assist in maintaining law and order.

Pakistan 

Clashes That Turned Deadly 

At least six are dead, four from security forces, and two from civilians, due to clashes between security forces and members of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has condemned the PTI supporters by saying that they murdered three Rangers personnel and a police constable. PTI, though, claimed to the contrary, asserting that casualty was received by security when returning after dispersing the protesters.

Intervention of armed forces as has been purportedly "granted under Article 245" against actions by "miscreants" from deteriorating mischief. Most extreme escalation by the government has been a stern order to shoot mischief makers on sight.

Bushra Bibi is at the protesting D-chowk

PTI members protesting in D-Chowk used slingshots and sticks against the police marching into this iconic area by Parliament. This ended with Bushra Bibi- wife of imprisoned PTI leader Imran Khan- and accompanied by Ali Amin Gandapur, Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the bastion of PTI. She talked to people from atop a container truck, pledging never to leave D-Chowk unless her husband was out, and asking others to be the same.

Ali Amin Gandapur advised the demonstrators in his speech to remain at D-Chowk Afri and not move into the Red Zone which contains important government institutions and the diplomatic enclave.

Islamabad On Lockdown

Since Sunday, this is a tremendous lockdown imposed on the twin cities of Pakistan: that is Islamabad and the neighboring country Rawalpindi. The roads, highways, and routes connecting the two cities are completely sealed; the schools are on the list to shut down, the cellphone and internet services are partially suspended. Countless PTI supporters from all over the country keep coming to Islamabad under the heavy convoy originating from Peshawar led by Bushra Bibi.

Islamabad On Lockdown

PTI Important Demands

The three major demands put forth by PTI against the protests are:

1. The release of Political Prisoners :

the immediate return of the party head, Imran Khan, and other arrested members.

2. Reluctance from Unnecessary Contribution of 26th Amendment:

 The three years' tenure ship of Chief Justices would be for all the Supreme Courts of the nations after its being endorsed in October, and also, the power of forming constitutional benches will lie with the government-dominated panels. This has thus been called a direct invasion against the independence of the judiciary by PTI.

3. Imposed Restoration of the Electoral Mandate:

 This is because the government is said to have snatched the victory, which PTI enjoyed under the held general elections on February 8, and hence, the party is all out to reclaim the alleged cheating. 

What Next?

The political crisis in Pakistan worsened increasingly over any heavy-handed remedy from the government to the escalation of protests. Shooting at sight orders and the army's involvement has led to fears of further bloodshed. The Country awaits to see whether dialogue or confrontation would break the stalemate as PTI supporters dig in at D-Chowk.