Iran Press/Asia: Yesterday, supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party initiated anti-government demonstrations from multiple cities in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab towards the nation's capital. After 24 hours, they arrived at the entrance to Islamabad's red zone, commonly referred to as "D-Chowk," despite facing opposition from security forces and encountering violent confrontations.
According to the Iran Press Agency from Islamabad, while the security situation in the Pakistani capital is extremely tight with the deployment of more than 30,000 police forces and the call of army forces, supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party crossed police barriers and reached the National Parliament building and the Red Zone in Islamabad's Pakistan.
Rangers paramilitary forces have opened fire prompting the small crowd of PTI supporters which had gathered at the D-Chowk to quickly disperse.
The rangers are using live bullet rounds as well as tear gas shells to keep the protesters away from D-Chowk.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi says the army has been deployed in the city’s Red Zone, where the protesters are heading. This comes after the government invoked Article 245. More than 4,000 protesters have been arrested so far.
At least six people have now been reported killed in protest-related violence, officials have confirmed. Four paramilitary rangers and two policemen are among the dead.
Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who had previously announced the security forces' determination to deal decisively with the protesters, said: "Dispersing the protesters is not a difficult task for the security agencies, but the government, unlike the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), does not seek bloodshed."
