Thousands of Pakistanis protested outside the European Parliament in Brussels, showing solidarity with Imran Khan’s final call and demanding to release @ImranKhanPTI!
#HistoryInTheMaking
#عمران_خان_نے_پکارا_ہے pic.twitter.com/L6Z9SM63Zf— Tehreek-e-Insaf (@InsafPK) November 24, 2024
Tens of thousands of protesters are converging on Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, as part of nationwide demonstrations calling for the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The protest follows a “final” call by Khan to his supporters, urging them to stay in the capital until their demands are met. Khan, who is serving a three-year prison sentence for corruption charges he denies, received a visit from some top leaders of his PTI party at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail.
Among them were caretaker chairman Gohar Ali Khan and lawmaker Ali Muhammad Khan. Authorities have responded by putting Islamabad under lockdown, blocking highways, and suspending mobile and internet services in certain areas. The march, which began on Sunday, has seen police using tear gas against protesters and reportedly arresting hundreds.
Pakistanis in Italy gather in large numbers, demanding Imran Khan’s release, restoration of the mandate, repeal of the 26th amendment, and release innocent workers!”
#HistoryInTheMaking
#عمران_خان_نے_پکارا_ہے pic.twitter.com/QdaWVgN3cP— Tehreek-e-Insaf (@InsafPK) November 24, 2024
Khan’s wife and former first lady, Bushra Bibi, is among those leading the rallies.
🔴 LIVE | PTI Massive Protest Day 2 | Imran Khan's Final Call | D-Chowk Islamabad https://t.co/8iAnXViRcq
— PTI (@PTIofficial) November 25, 2024
In a speech to supporters, she declared, “Until Khan comes to us, we will not end this march.” Released on bail in a related case last month, Bushra Bibi is determined to keep the movement alive.
Protests escalate amid Khans’s imprisonment
Only Imran Khan could manage such a massive mobilization, leaving the illigitimate government in complete panic!#HistoryInTheMaking pic.twitter.com/EvJqrO43g8
— PTI (@PTIofficial) November 25, 2024
Amidst the protests, Islamabad has earned a new nickname from locals—”Containeristan”—due to the pervasive use of shipping containers by authorities to block roads and manage the unrest. The city resembles a fortress, with heavy police and paramilitary deployments. Daily life for residents has been severely disrupted.
Schools are closed, workers face hurdles in reaching their offices, and businesses relying on the internet, such as ride-hailing and food delivery services, are at a standstill. Political analysts, like Michael Kugelman from the Wilson Centre in Washington, warn that the ongoing power struggle could further destabilize Pakistan, diverting attention from critical economic and security challenges. Meanwhile, protesters have set ablaze police vehicles and hurled stones in the city’s suburbs.
The standoff continues, with Islamabad remaining as blocked as the political deadlock gripping the nation. As the day progresses, the main convoy of protesters, led by Ali Amin Gandapur and Bushra Bibi, is expected to reach Islamabad, potentially escalating the situation further.
