Police intervention ended a four-day lockdown in Pakistan's capital following protests.
The Associated Press reported that authorities in Islamabad concluded the lockdown by using tear gas and gunfire to disperse protesters advocating for former Prime Minister Imran Khan's release.
The disturbances began on Sunday when supporters of Imran Khan, led by his wife Bushra Bibi, initiated a "long march" from the northwest of Pakistan toward Islamabad. This movement aimed to press for Khan's release from imprisonment.
By Wednesday, the protests had escalated significantly, resulting in a showdown with police in a high-security area of the capital.
The protesters, numbering in the thousands, had forcefully made their way through shipping container barriers, leading to direct clashes with law enforcement authorities.
To control the escalating situation, police resorted to tear gas and firing into the air, which dispersed the crowd but not without significant consequences.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reported, "All roads are being reopened, and the demonstrators have been dispersed."
This statement came after the violent clashes resulted in the deaths of at least seven individuals.
The chaotic scenes saw Bushra Bibi and other protest leaders fleeing the capital in a vehicle, retreating to Mansehra in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Imran Khan, who was ousted from power in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in Parliament, has been a central figure in Pakistani politics even from behind bars.
Currently facing over 150 criminal charges, which his party claims are politically motivated, Khan has been incarcerated for over a year, fueling continuous unrest among his supporters.
The protests and subsequent government response have highlighted the ongoing political tensions in Pakistan, underscoring the divisive nature of Khan's imprisonment.
Following the dispersal of protesters, the situation in Islamabad has stabilized, with authorities reopening the previously locked-down areas.
However, the resolution of the protests leaves open questions about the potential for future unrest and the government's strategies for dealing with political dissent.
The crackdown on Khan's supporters not only raises concerns about the state of democracy in Pakistan but also about how the government plans to handle similar situations in the future should they arise.
