Iran Press/Asia: According to the Iran Press Agency from Islamabad, citing the Express News news site, the Pakistani police and Rangers conducted a successful operation against thousands of supporters of the Tehreek-e-Insaf party who had managed to cross security barriers and bring their unrest to the Red Zone of Islamabad, with the aim of releasing former Prime Minister Imran Khan and several other political demands.
According to Pakistani media reports, security forces evacuated all areas around Islamabad's Red Zone, arresting 450 protesters and dispersing supporters of the Pakistani Tehreek-e-Insaf party.
Express News wrote in its report: "Ali Amin Gandapur, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 'Bishri Bibi', the wife of Imran Khan, who were leading the protest, have also withdrawn from the PTI sit-in, and reports have been published that they have left Islamabad for Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
This operation against the protesters was carried out while Pakistani officials, including Mohsin Naqvi, the Interior Minister of the Islamabad government, had stated that the demonstrations by Imran Khan supporters had effectively turned into riots and had announced the determination of the Pakistani government and the government to prevent further violence.
He also rejected any negotiations with the rioters and announced: "Those who have stormed Islamabad with the aim of shedding the blood of security forces will be dealt with severely."
