Thousands of supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan have descended on the Pakistani capital Islamabad this week, staging violent protests and calling for Khan's release from prison. Several security forces members have already been killed in the unrest, according to the government. The interior ministry said additional personnel has been deployed to protect diplomatic missions within the heavily secured Red Zone, which houses multiple government buildings and embassies in Islamabad.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the violence as 'extremism' directed at fulfilling 'evil political objectives.' With the violence escalating, many wonder if Sharif will remain in charge or be sidelined by the nation's powerful military.
The main demand of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party is to set free all its leaders, including Khan himself, who has been jailed on multiple corruption charges since August 2023. Khan's supporters also accuse the Sharif's coalition of rigging this year's general election.
But analysts fear that clashes between soldiers and protesters might make the unrest even more dangerous. 'If things turn violent then there will be a possibility of direct military intervention that will fundamentally change the situation.'
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