Police Crackdown on Imran Khan Supporters: Security personnel wreaked havoc on supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan at midnight. After strict action by security forces, they had to end their protest in and around D-Chowk in the capital Islamabad. Imran's party called this action on the protest a massacre under fascist military rule. Police sources said that about 450 protesters were arrested in this action and more arrests are expected.

PTI said, there was a violent attack on the protesters

Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said it was a violent crackdown on protesters by security forces, with bullets being fired to kill as many people as possible. Earlier on Tuesday evening, PTI supporters braved police and managed to reach D-Chowk to stage a sit-in protest march in Islamabad. Six security personnel were killed and dozens injured in clashes with Imran supporters. Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi, who led the march from Peshawar to Islamabad along with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, announced that the protesters would not leave until Imran Khan was released from jail.

Video footage showed Imran Khan's supporters facing tear gas and climbing on shipping containers placed on roads leading to D-Chowk, which is located close to several important government buildings including the Presidency, PM Office, Parliament, and the Supreme Court.

Bushra Bibi and CM Gandapur also had to flee.e

Around midnight, police and Rangers launched an operation to clear the Blue Area commercial area, forcing the protesters to leave the area along with Bushra Bibi and Gandapur. Police sources said around 450 protesters were arrested in the operation and more arrests were expected after the protests were over.

Sources said that special teams have been formed to arrest the PTI leaders.

Thousands of people fled, the government said

Later, while addressing a press conference at D-Chowk, Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that Gandapur and Bushra Bibhadve fled. "They fled in front of you, not one or two or three but thousands of people fled," he said. He said that restoring roads closedtor traffic in the capital is a priority. He also announced that schools will reopen on Thursday. He said that mobile and internet services will be restored by morning. By morning you will find all roads in working condition. He said that the administration would try to remove all the containers by morning.

Gandapur and Bushra Bibi are safe

Meanwhile, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said in a post on X that Gandapur and Bibi are safe, but he did not disclose it as per information received from sources. However, Geo News reported that Bibi and Gandapur have reached Peshawar, while the party has ended its protest. Information Minister Atta Tarar also claimed in a press conference that Gandapur and Bushra Bibi fled. He mocked Imran Khan's final call to the protest, saying that sadly I have to say that it was not a final call but a wrong call.