Dozens of Imran Khan supporters, including 60 Afghans, arrested in Islamabad
Islamabad police have arrested 412 supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), including 60 Afghans, ahead of the party’s planned protest on Friday, October 4th. The police stated that thousands of officers have been deployed to prevent protesters from reaching the D-Chowk area.
According to the Express Tribune, these individuals were arrested in the Bara Kahu, Tarnol, and Sangjani areas, and police recovered spiked batons, slingshots, and stones from them.
Following the arrests, security measures in Islamabad have been tightened, and security forces have been deployed to protect the capital’s Red Zone.
The arrests come as PTI, led by its founder Imran Khan, had called for a protest at D-Chowk on Friday.
Authorities have implemented strict security measures to prevent protesters from reaching the demonstration site, deploying around 4,000 security personnel.
Officials in Rawalpindi also reported that they had arrested more than 150 supporters of the PTI.
Authorities stated that security barriers, including containers, have been placed at key entry points from Rawalpindi to Islamabad to control movement.
The arrests and strict security measures reflect the government’s determination to prevent disruptions during the planned PTI protest. With thousands of security personnel deployed and key areas blocked off, authorities are working to maintain order in Islamabad and its surroundings.
However, the presence of Afghan nationals among the arrested raises questions about the political influence of PTI among the Afghan diaspora in Pakistan. This could complicate the already sensitive relationship between the two countries, particularly concerning the political participation of Afghans in Pakistani movements.
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