Following violent clashes between police and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters in Islamabad on Tuesday, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced that the government would not engage in talks with the protesters. Naqvi confirmed this decision after meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, emphasizing that there would be no negotiations with PTI.
Naqvi also pointed to a woman, presumably Bushra Bibi, the wife of PTI leader Imran Khan, as being responsible for the chaos in the capital, where PTI supporters attempted to hold a sit-in at D-Chowk, demanding Khan’s release. Despite efforts by police to stop the protest, including the use of tear gas, protesters armed with steel rods and slingshots clashed with security forces. At least six people, including four paramilitary soldiers, were killed during the violence, and 119 others were injured.
The protests erupted after PTI accused the government of electoral fraud and constitutional tampering. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attacks on security forces, labeling the protests as “extremism” and stressing that Pakistan could not afford further chaos or bloodshed for political gain.
The situation has grown tense with the deployment of the Pakistan Army under Article 245, allowing them to intervene with strict orders to deal decisively with the unrest. As the protests continue, the government has imposed a ban on public gatherings and sealed off major roads with containers, while PTI leaders, including Bushra Bibi, have vowed to continue the protests until their demands are met.
