Violent Clashes in Islamabad as PTI Leaders Flee Amid Ongoing Police Operation
Islamabad:Tensions escalated in Islamabad on [Date] as violent clashes erupted between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protesters and security forces. The situation intensified when key PTI leaders, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and former First Lady Bushra Bibi, fled the scene in the midst of a police operation.
According to reports, Gandapur and Bushra Bibi were in a vehicle near Kulsoom Plaza in the Blue Area, where a police operation was underway to disperse PTI supporters. As security forces moved in, the two leaders quickly escaped in a single vehicle, reportedly heading towards the D-Chowk area.
While the exact location of their escape remains unclear, sources suggest that they were last seen near Jinnah Avenue. Police pursued their vehicle, with reports indicating that Bushra Bibi’s car headed toward the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House, while the authorities intensified their efforts to capture the fleeing leaders.
In the wake of the leaders’ escape, PTI supporters also began fleeing the scene, abandoning their vehicles and scattering across residential areas in various parts of the capital. The protesters had clashed with police and Rangers throughout the day, throwing stones and using slingshots to target security personnel.
The violence resulted in significant casualties, with four security personnel – including members of the Rangers and police – confirmed dead, and over 100 others injured in the clashes.
In response to the growing unrest, authorities took additional security measures, including the closure of the Attock Bridge, which connects Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Punjab, and the deployment of heavy police forces at key entry points. The roadblock at Attock was set up to prevent protesters from fleeing the capital and to cut off potential escape routes to other provinces.
Earlier, Rangers had cleared the D-Chowk area, pushing back protesters and dismantling barriers erected by demonstrators. Despite this, skirmishes continued throughout the day, with PTI supporters and law enforcement engaging in a tense back-and-forth.
The police have confirmed they are still pursuing the leaders of PTI, with Bushra Bibi and Ali Amin Gandapur being the primary targets of the operation. The political unrest in Islamabad has heightened concerns about the security situation and the impact of ongoing protests on the capital’s peace and order.
