Pakistan’s military has authorized troops to open fire on protesters under “shoot on sight” protocols as supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party launched massive demonstrations in the federal capital. The unrest has claimed at least six lives from security ranks, intensifying a political crisis gripping the nation.

Protest Timeline Unfolds

PTI cadres, rallying under #ReleaseKhan banners, converged on Islamabad from across Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa despite roadblocks and internet curbs. Khan, imprisoned since 2023 on graft charges, urged the marches via smuggled messages, demanding his release and early polls. Clashes erupted when crowds torched vehicles and pelted stones, prompting army deployment under Article 245.

Army’s Escalatory Stance

“No tolerance for anarchy—troops empowered to neutralize threats decisively,” — ISPR Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) justified lethal force amid reports of armed elements infiltrating protests. Analysts warn of 2022 redux, when PTI’s Long March paralyzed highways, but current volatility risks broader instability amid economic woes and Taliban tensions.

Broader Fallout

Stock markets dipped 2.5% at open; schools and courts shuttered in twin cities. PTI vows sustained sit-ins till Khan’s freedom, while PML-N accuses “anarchists” of foreign-backed sabotage. International observers eye military’s deepening political role post-2024 elections.