Pakistani Security Complaint Sweeping Supporters Imran Khan After The Clash That Killed 6 People

JAKARTA - Pakistan's security forces launched a midnight sweep of supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Hundreds of people were arrested amid a chaotic atmosphere.

Thousands of protesters previously gathered in downtown Islamabad after a convoy led by Khan's wife broke through several security lines to the edge of the heavily fortified city red zone.

The red zone, guarded by the army, houses the country's most important offices and buildings, including parliament and overseas mission centers.

Reuters reported on Wednesday, November 27, at least six people, including four paramilitary soldiers, died before Tuesday's sweep.

Local broadcaster Geo News and ARY reported a massive sweep of security forces in the midst of a pitch-black downtown Islamabad, where lights were turned off and a series of tear gas were fired. The protest meeting almost completely dissolved, they reported.

The Khan Party, Pakistan Tereek-e-Insaf (PTI), said it plans to take action sitting in the red zone until Khan is released, which has been jailed since August last year.

Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, spoke to reporters, ruling out any negotiations with protesters who he said used weapons against fully armed and fully armed security forces and had violated the ban on gathering in the city.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif blamed protesters for the army's death and accused them of hitting paramilitary forces with a convoy of vehicles.

Zulfikar Bukhari, a spokesman for PTI, denied the allegations. He said two protesters were also killed and 30 injured in the clashes.

"One of the protesters was shot dead and the other was hit by a vehicle," said Bukhari.

Authorities did not respond to questions trying to confirm the death. Reuters was unable to independently verify the information.

"This is not a peaceful protest. This is extremism," Sharif said, calling this action aimed at achieving "an evil political design".

Sharif said the violence prompted law enforcement agencies to limit self-control'.

Earlier, in a post on X from prison, Khan, 72, said his message to his supporters was to fight until the end.

"We will not back down until our demands are met," he said, accusing security forces of shooting at party workers who carried out peaceful demonstrations.

Violence erupted at the end of a demonstration led by Khan's wife Bushra Bibi and her main aide Ali Amin Gan Kotten, who arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday morning.

Reuters journalists saw several protesters search the vehicle and set fire to the police station. They also attacked and injured journalists in two separate locations.