(Islamabad) Islamabad, the Pakistani capital, was cordoned off and cordoned off on Saturday by security forces, and mobile internet was cut as supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan tried to mobilize the streets.
Khan was not allowed to run in February’s parliamentary elections which were marred by allegations of fraud. But the former cricket international’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), wants to show that it can still mobilize against the government, formed without him after this election thanks to the support of the army.
PTI supporters began streaming into Islamabad on Friday after leaving their base in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but were met with roadblocks made of shipping containers and volleys of tear gas.
PHOTO FAROOQ NAEEM, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Police use tear gas to disperse crowds in Islamabad.
Small, scattered groups flocked to Islamabad on Saturday to defy the government which approved the deployment of troops on the streets, citing the need to ensure security ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit due to take place on Saturday. open on October 15.
“I am so proud of all our people,” Khan said in a message posted to X on Saturday afternoon. “You showed unwavering resilience and courage by coming out yesterday and overcoming incredible obstacles. »
Protests are also planned for Saturday in Lahore, but the main highway linking the eastern megacity to the capital has been blocked.
For Amnesty International, communications cuts and roadblocks “undermine people’s rights to freedom of expression, access to information, peaceful assembly and movement.” “These restrictions are part of a worrying crackdown on the right to protest in Pakistan.”
PHOTO AKHTAR SOOMRO, REUTERS ARCHIVES
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan
More than a year ago, Imran Khan, 71 years old, including four as prime minister before censorship, was imprisoned – because he had lost the support, essential to Pakistan, of the powerful army according to experts.
As opposition leader, he led an unprecedented campaign of defiance before becoming embroiled in a slew of trials that he says were orchestrated to prevent his return to power.