Pakistan's political storm: Ex-PM supporters flood streets in massive protest

Thousands of Imran Khanʼs followers made their way to Islamabad this week causing major unrest in Pakistanʼs capital. The protesters (many coming from the northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region) broke through police lines and pushed towards the cities center

Their main demands include getting their jailed leader out of prison – Khan has been locked up since last summer on corruption charges; plus they want Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifʼs government to step down because they think the recent elections werent fair

The government put up a strong response: shipping-containers block main streets; riot police stand guard everywhere; internet is down‚ and schools are closed-up. During weekend clashes with security forces four paramilitary troops died when a protest car ran them over

The demonstrators want to reach a well-known protest spot near parliament - its been used for many sit-ins before. In fact Khan himself led a big 126-day protest there about 10 years ago‚ and just couple months back his supporters had another march that ended with one police officer dead

The protestors including Khanʼs wife Bushra Bibi call this a “do-or-die“ moment; however the current administration shows no signs of giving in to their demands. Security forces with riot gear patrol the streets while gatherings stay banned in the capital