Thousands of supporters of Imran Khan have been detained by police as Pakistan’s capital remains under lockdown in advance of a rally demanding the release of the jailed former prime minister and resignation of the current government.
Shahid Nawaz, a security officer in eastern Punjab province, said on Monday that police have already detained more than 4,000 Khan supporters, including five parliamentarians.
In a news conference, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said authorities will arrest more Khan supporters if they reach Islamabad’s Red Zone, which has been sealed off to protect government buildings.
“Anyone reaching it will be arrested,” he said.
Naqvi said the security measures were in place to protect residents and property, blaming Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party for inconveniencing people and businesses.
Earlier on Monday, hundreds of Khan’s supporters started their march to Islamabad, reaching the fringes of the capital, according to officials and his party.
Videos posted on social media showed allies of Khan, rallying the crowd and urging them to march ahead. Convoys of hundreds of cars were also seen.
In Peshawar, supporters of Khan were in a festive mood, with PTI workers dancing, drumming and holding up pictures of their leader as cars set off for Islamabad.
Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi and key aide Ali Amin Gandapur, who is the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, are leading a rally that arrived just outside Islamabad on Sunday night, PTI said.
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