As the central caravan of imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan’s party neared Islamabad on Monday amidst roadblocks and police shelling, negotiations between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the government ministers broke down.
While highways into the city have been blocked, authorities have imposed a security lockdown for the past two days to prevent the protesters from marching on parliament for a sit-in demonstration demanding his release.
With police and paramilitary patrols wearing riot gear, the government has blocked important routes and streets in Islamabad with shipping containers.
According to officials and witnesses, all public transportation between cities and terminals in Punjab’s eastern region has been suspended in order to deter the demonstrators.
