PTI convoys enter Islamabad amid clashes with police 

ISLAMABAD: Convoys of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) entered Islamabad on Monday evening breaching barriers and hurdles in response to a protest call given by party founder and former prime minister Imran Khan against what he said “stolen mandate and rule of law”.

The PTI workers clashed with police and other law enforcers as they proceeded towards Islamabad’s D-Chowk, the final destination of the planned rally. 

At Chungi No-26, PTI workers chanted slogans as Islamabad police personnel vanished from the scene. However, Rangers personnel remained deployed, taking positions to manage the crowd. 

At the Katti Pahari hills, PTI workers reportedly attacked police personnel and seized tear gas shells and guns from them before PTI leader and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur intervened.

Earlier, at the Ghazi Barotha Bridge, police used heavy tear gas to contain the advancing PTI convoy. 

At Hazara Interchange, PTI convoys led by Omar Ayub pushed back Punjab police personnel, while Gandapur’s caravan joined them to break free of containment.

The Hazara Motorway became a flashpoint of intense clashes, leaving multiple police officials injured. 

PTI workers reportedly resorted to firearms and targetted several police men with bullets.

A policeman from Sargodha was critically injured by a gunshot to the leg, while another official from Faisalabad sustained a neck wound and was rushed to a district hospital in Rawalpindi for emergency care. 

The PTI workers took control of the Hazara Motorway bridge and pelted police personnel with stone, injuring four officials. They also attempted to remove containers blocking the route and set two private vehicles ablaze. 

Meanwhile, convoys from Mianwali faced fierce resistance at the Hakla Interchange.

Addressing the workers, KP Chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur vowed to reach Islamabad’s D-Chowk at all costs, stating, “We have burned our boats. There’s no turning back now.”

In anticipation of the unrest, the Islamabad district administration has designated the CIA building in I-9 as a sub-jail.

Sources said that the government has decided to crackdown on “PTI-affiliated YouTubers and social media activists” disguised as journalists for allegedly leaking Islamabad police strategies to the PTI leadership. 

Earlier, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar announced that the protest call issued by party founder Imran Khan is final, ruling out the possibility of its withdrawal. 

Speaking to the media following a critical meeting with Imran Khan at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, Barrister Gohar emphasised that the protest would proceed as planned.

“I had an important discussion with our party’s founder, and his stance remains unchanged — the protest call is final and will not be called off,” he said. 

The meeting, attended by Barrister Gohar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Barrister Saif, lasted approximately 90 minutes.