Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan called for tens of thousands of his supporters in the northwestern city of Peshawar to gather in the capital, Islamabad, to demand elections. The coalition government led by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif promised to block Khan’s action, describing the rally as an attempt to “divide the country and incite chaos”. “No one should be allowed to besiege the capital and dictate its terms,” said Interior Minister Rana. Entry and exit points on highways leading to the capital have been blocked by police around Peshawar, Lahore and Multan. Islamabad police also announced that intense security measures were taken. Despite all the measures, Khan’s supporters poured into the streets to reach the capital, and at some points clashes broke out between the police and the protesters. Some groups, on the other hand, broke through the barricades and reached the borders of the capital.
Khan and his supporters demand that elections be held this year, not in 2023 as planned.