Four Pakistani security troops were killed on Tuesday in Islamabad after being run over by vehicles in a convoy of protesters demanding the release of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The tragic incident occurred as thousands of Khan’s supporters marched on the capital, breaking through barricades to stage a sit-in near parliament.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the violence, describing the protest as an act of extremism aimed at advancing “evil political designs.” “It is not a peaceful protest,” Sharif said in a statement, holding the protesters responsible for the bloodshed.
The interior ministry attributed the attacks to “miscreants” but did not provide specific details, confirming the deaths of four paramilitary officers.
The protest was led by Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, and Ali Amin Gandapur, a key aide and chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to Khan’s party and eyewitnesses. Khan himself urged the marchers to converge at a roundabout near parliament.
The protesters’ demands include Khan’s release, the resignation of the current government, and the reversal of constitutional amendments they claim limit the judiciary’s powers.
Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party has yet to respond to the government’s accusations. The ongoing unrest underscores the deepening political divide in Pakistan, with tensions escalating as the former prime minister’s supporters continue to push for his release and broader political reforms.
Melissa Enoch
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