Pakistan Locks Down Capital as Jailed Ex-PM Khan Calls for Protests
ISLAMABAD — In a significant move, Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, along with neighboring Rawalpindi, was locked down on Friday as major roads were blocked, mobile services were suspended, schools were closed, and public transit was halted. This comes as jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan urged his supporters to take to the streets.
The government had issued a stern warning on Thursday evening, stating it would take decisive measures to suppress any demonstrations. Security forces were deployed throughout the capital, home to approximately 2.3 million residents, in anticipation of protests aimed at securing the release of the popular former leader.
Khan has called for supporters of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to gather at D-Chowk, a major intersection near Pakistan’s parliament and the prime minister’s office. The protests are a response to a proposed constitutional amendment intended to extend the term of retiring Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa.
Opposition figures claim that the government fears the appointment of Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Isa’s potential successor, who might expedite the release of Khan and review the February elections that brought the current administration to power amid allegations of widespread vote rigging.
The administration of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif maintains that the proposed amendment is aimed at judicial reform.
Khan, a former cricket star, was ousted in a no-confidence vote in 2022 and imprisoned last year on multiple charges, including corruption and abuse of power. He faces additional accusations linked to the alleged vandalism of army installations by his supporters after his arrest. Khan, who insists these charges are politically motivated, has been acquitted in most cases to date.
“PTI is focusing on Rawalpindi and Islamabad to increase street pressure on the government ahead of the imminent approval of the proposed constitutional amendment,” noted Tahir Naeem Malik, a professor of international relations at the National University of Modern Languages in Islamabad. “These protests not only pressure the government but also signal to foreign governments that the proposed amendment lacks public support.”
