Jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan's PTI party temporarily suspended its protests after his supporters were cleared from central Islamabad during an overnight raid. The demonstrations, which have turned violent, have resulted in at least six deaths.

Jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), temporarily halted its protests in Islamabad on Wednesday, which had been demanding Khan's release. These protests, which have been ongoing for several days, have led to the deaths of at least six individuals, including four paramilitary troops and two protesters.

Reports from Pakistani media indicate that security forces launched a large-scale raid overnight in Islamabad, effectively dispersing PTI supporters. Following this action, authorities reopened roads that connect the capital to the rest of Pakistan, ending the lockdown that had been in place since Sunday. "All roads are being reopened, and the demonstrators have been dispersed," stated Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

In the aftermath, several vehicles were found abandoned in the Red Zone, a heavily fortified area of the city. Among them was a truck from which Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, had been leading the protests. Witnesses cited by Reuters reported that the truck appeared to have been scorched by flames.

Mohammad Asim, the PTI leader in Peshawar, told Reuters that Bibi had returned safely to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, located in the northwest, along with Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, with its capital in Peshawar, is a stronghold for the PTI, and Gandapur is a close ally of Khan. "The movement is continuing, and it will be ended only by Imran Khan," Gandapur stated after retreating from Islamabad.

Later on Wednesday, Pakistan’s police reported that nearly 1,000 protesters had been arrested between Sunday and Tuesday. Islamabad Police Inspector General Ali Nasir Rizvi revealed that demonstrators had managed to approach D-Chowk square, located just 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) from the center of Islamabad.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan urged Khan and members of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's governing coalition to "immediately enter a purposeful political dialogue." The commission emphasized that it was "high time" for both sides to find a peaceful solution and prevent further escalation of tensions, which had brought the country to a standstill.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International accused law enforcement officials of using "unlawful and excessive force" as protesters made their way into Islamabad. On Tuesday, thousands of PTI supporters broke through police barricades made of shipping containers, entering the capital and marching toward D-Chowk, a historic rallying point near Islamabad’s Red Zone.

The protests began on Sunday as Khan supporters initiated a "long march" toward the capital, coming from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the populous province of Punjab. The marchers were demanding Khan's release. The former prime minister is facing over 150 criminal charges, which he claims are politically motivated. Khan was ousted from office in 2022 following a no-confidence vote in parliament.

Since the protests began, hundreds of demonstrators have been arrested, with reports suggesting that thousands were detained ahead of the march.