In an attempt to prevent supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan from staging a sit-in to demand his release, Pakistani police on Monday used tear gas canisters on them, according to officials.
Soon after protesters, who had trekked 150 kilometers (93 miles) from the unrest-plagued northwest, started to arrive and assemble close to Islamabad, tear gas was fired. They disobeyed a citywide rally prohibition, a lockdown, earlier tear gas, and numerous arrests.
The event occurred one day after Khan’s party leadership continued the “long march” despite Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s three-day visit. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met him Monday evening at an airport close to the city.
