PTI says negotiations conditional to prisoners’ release as protesters gather at D-Chowk – Pakistan

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Army reportedly called into capital as 4 personnel dead in violence; PTI claims 2 dead in “shooting” at protesters.

The PTI said on Monday that any negotiations with the government were subject to the release of its political prisoners, among other demands, as protesters gathered at Islamabad’s D-Chowk for the party’s much-touted power show, amid reports of intense tear gas shelling by security forces to curtail the protest.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned what he said was an “attack by protesters”, which the interior minister said resulted in the deaths of at least four security personnel.

The incident comes as PTI convoys — plying roads countrywide since Sunday — gather in Islamabad for a much-touted power show to demand the release of its founder Imran Khan, among other things.


What we know so far:

  • Stalemate in PTI-govt ‘talks’ continues as protesters inch close to D-Chowk
  • PM Shehbaz condemns “attack by protesters” that left 4 personnel dead
  • PTI alleges Rangers fired live ammunition, killing 2 protesters, injuring 4
  • Mobile data remains suspended for 4th day
  • State media says army deployed to handle “miscreants”
  • Belarusian president addresses media with PM Shehbaz in Islamabad
  • PSX plunges 3,200 points on political uncertainty

The PTI shared a video on X of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur addressing protesters while leading a convoy towards D-Chowk. The post used a hashtag of “first release, then negotiations”.

CM Gandapur said Imran had always talked about remaining peaceful and upholding the rule of law and warned the people to beware of elements among them who might try to instigate wrong acts.

He renewed his vow to reach the planned protest venue.

“We have to reach D-Chowk,” he told protesters near D-Chowk, who replied to his call with chants of “D-Chowk”.

“Till Imran Khan doesn’t give orders […] we have to protect him (Imran),” the PTI leader, accompanied by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan at the container, asserted.

“We are peaceful. Let us hold a sit-in in a peaceful manner,” he added.

Bushra Bibi, wife of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, and PTI supporters attend a rally demanding his release, in Islamabad on Nov 26, 2024. — Reuters/Waseem Khan

Separately, following reports of heavy teargas shelling at protesters, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan called upon the government to “refrain from [firing] at innocent people”.

“I called upon the government to refrain from firing at innocent people,” Gohar said on X.

“I appeal [to] all PTI’s workers and supporters to remain peaceful in their struggle. I want to tell you all that we are very much hopeful of early release of [Imran] Khan sab, InshaAllah.”

Visuals shared by a Dawn.com correspondent present at the scene at around 3pm showed dozens of PTI protesters gathering near Islamabad’s D-Chowk and climbing up containers placed there to obstruct their way.

Army personnel were also standing on top of a container, the correspondent said.

D-Chowk, a roundabout in Islamabad’s heavily fortified Red Zone, has long served as a spot for political protests. The junction leads to critical government buildings, including Parliament House, the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Pakistan Secretariat, and the Prime Minister’s Office.

Later visuals showed protesters converging about 550 metres away from D-Chowk, where as many as three layers of containers could be seen piled atop each other.

This screengrab shows the pin location of where PTI protesters had gathered at around 3pm on Nov 24, according to footage shared by a Dawn.com correspondent. — via Google Maps

In a post on X, the PTI appealed to Islamabad’s residents to bring various items — including Betnesol-N eyedrops, rose water and drinking water — to the protesters to reduce the effect of teargas.

Stalemate in talks

The government and the PTI have apparently opened a ‘back-channel’ for the sake of negotiations.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that they had offered the PTI an agreement to hold their rallies in Sangjani, which the party agreed to twice but did not abide by the “ceasefire”.

Mohsin Naqvi speaks at D-Chowk on Nov 26, 2024. — DawnNewsTV

“So much so that they had asked us to open the routes to Sangjani,” he said while speaking to the media at D-Chowk earlier today.

“We have spoken with them in every way. […] I had said this yesterday too that let’s stand at the D-Chowk right now and start firing there, then no person would be seen there.

“But we do not plan to do that,” the minister asserted.

The interior minister said he had informed the Islamabad inspector general that it was up to him to tackle the protesters “however he wishes”. “We will definitely support him.”

While confirming reports of the army being deployed in Islamabad, the interior minister said that the forces’ priority was to protect the visiting Belarusian delegation and the Red Zone.

“Your head of state is in the Red Zone right now and his protection is of the utmost importance for us,” Naqvi said, referring to PM Shehbaz.

He alleged that the PTI was using resources of the KP government led by it, including teargas shells. “Their entire leadership does not want this bloodshed, except for one secret hand behind them controlling every single thing,” he said.

When asked about the number of PTI protesters heading for Islamabad, Naqvi said there were “three to four convoys”, claiming all of them were from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

PTI supporters attend a rally demanding release of former prime minister Imran Khan, in Islamabad on Nov 26, 2024. — Reuters

Last night, Naqvi seemed to confirm talks with the protesting opposition party, saying that the government had offered Sangjani — the same venue on the outskirts of Islamabad where the PTI held its Sept 8 rally — for the protest.

Late-night media reports suggested that PTI leaders were trying to prevail upon Imran’s wife Bushra Bibi, who is leading the main caravan of protesters coming from KP to Islamabad, to accept the proposal to change the protest venue.

Dawn quoted police officers as saying that the convoy of the PTI leaders and workers coming from KP comprised over 34,000 persons.

On Nov 13, Imran Khan issued a “final call” for nationwide protests on Nov 24, demanding the restoration of the PTI’s electoral mandate, the release of detained party members and the reversal of the 26th Amendment, which he said has strengthened a “dictatorial regime”.

statement issued by his ministry, Naqvi had said four Rangers personnel had lost their lives in an alleged attack, condemning it in the strongest terms.

Meanwhile, state-run Radio Pakistan reported the deaths of five personnel, including three Rangers and two Punjab police.

“Scores of others were injured in attacks by the violent PTI workers,” the report claimed, adding that 22 vehicles of the Punjab police had been damaged.

“The police have arrested several violent protesters, while [the] process of identifying the perpetrators is underway,” the state media asserted.

A previous report had also stated that “five other Rangers personnel and several police officials sustained severe injuries”.

While an updated report did not specify the cause of the deaths, an earlier version, citing security sources, had said “miscreants rammed a vehicle into Rangers personnel” on Srinagar Highway in Islamabad.

The report had said a “bunch of miscreants, equipped with weapons and ammunition, pelted stones at the Rangers personnel and carried out indiscriminate firing on the security personnel at Chungi No 26 in Rawalpindi”.

Resultantly, the report said, a ranger personnel sustained serious injuries and was shifted to Rawalpindi Combined Military Hospital in critical condition.

said on X.

In a separate post, the party claimed that the “unarmed” party workers were under intense tear gas shelling by law enforcement agencies.

The “fake” government is willing to go to any extent to maintain its illegal occupation, the party said.

It added that the government, through its use of state institutions against its own people, was “not only inciting hatred among Pakistanis but also becoming the cause of Pakistan’s disgrace in front of the world”.

State is being very patient: info minister

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, while speaking to the media, lamented that PTI leadership like Bushra Bibi was “hiding in Shaheed-e-Millat” while allegedly sending children and labourers “to the front lines”, who he claimed were throwing tear gas at the police.

Attaullah Tarar speaks to media in Islamabad. — DawnNewsTV

“The state is being very patient and not giving in to the demands simply because Bushra Bibi planned this and wants bloodshed and bodies to pile up,” he said. Tarar issued a challenge to Imran, saying: “Bring your three children to the front lines, Tyrian, Qassim, Suleiman.”

The minister stressed that the PTI chooses to hold a protest only when a foreign delegation visits from overseas. “Why at this location? Because they are enemies of the state and want to spread anarchy, which we will not allow.”

“We are responding, but not the way you want, that we respond to your bullets with bullets,” the minister asserted.

According to Tarar, he spoke to protesters who admitted that they were paid for attending the protest. Tarar also noted that Rangers, police and the armed forces have been deployed in the capital.

statement.

“The PPP’s stance about the right to peaceful protest [compared to] mischief and terrorism is clear,” the PPP chief said.

reported.

“Under Article 245, the Pakistan Army has been called in, and orders have been issued to deal with the miscreants with an iron hand,” Radio Pakistan stated.

“Clear orders have also been issued to shoot miscreants and troublemakers on sight,” it added.

Citing security sources, the report said all necessary measures were being taken to “counter terrorist activities by disruptive and extremist elements”.

While the Associated Press of Pakistan reported the same citing security sources, it is not confirmed whether a notification for the requisition has been issued so far.

Dawn.com has reached out to the interior ministry for a comment.

A Dawn.com correspondent also reported seeing troops of the Pakistan Army deployed at D-Chowk.

Pakistan Army stands guard near D-Chowk, Islamabad on Nov 26, 2024. — Photo by Umar Bacha

Interior Minister Naqvi hinted at the move yesterday, stating that the government would deal with violent protesters with an iron hand.

He warned that he would not hesitate to impose a curfew or invoke Article 245, which empowered the government to call armed forces for security purposes.

Arrests on the road to protest

The PTI’s protest, which the government is determined to foil with force, was originally scheduled to be staged on November 24.

However, the party’s convoys took a breather on Sunday night as PTI leaders said they were in “no hurry” to reach the federal capital for their ‘do or die’ protest.

The PTI protesters, some of them employing industrial fans to counter tear gas, crossed Islamabad’s Toll Plaza on Monday night as the government vowed to not spare those behind a cop’s death in “violence of miscreants”.

As PTI workers from across the country attempted to defy arrests, baton charges and tear gas to participate in the agitation, around 800 PTI leaders and supporters were arrested from across Punjab as well as in and near Islamabad on Sunday.

In an update, capital police officials told Dawn that during the ongoing protests, over 500 local PTI leaders and workers have been arrested in Islamabad.

Anticipating more arrests, the Islamabad administration declared the Crime Intelligence Agency’s building in the federal capital as a sub-jail to detain PTI leaders and workers.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ruled that PTI’s planned protest is unlawful and directed the federal government to take all necessary measures to maintain law and order in Islamabad without disrupting public life, particularly as the Belarusian president’s arrival coincided with the protest.


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