The third day of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf protest continued to be full of commotion. Late on Tuesday night, unidentified men set fire to the container intended for the central leaders of the PTI protest.

According to security sources, Islamabad Blue Area was evacuated and cleared at midnight. They added that no operation was being carried out there at this time.

Reports said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi were not at the site.

PTI workers were pushed back from Kulsoom International Hospital, about two kilometres from D Chowk, around 9am while the container was near PIMS Hospital at the junction of Jinnah and Faisal Avenues near the Hospital, Aaj News Islamabad Bureau Chief Tariq Chaudhry told News Insight with Amir Zia.

The government has ruled out any talks with the PTI, alleging that the former ruling party had miscreants and terrorists in the protest.

Footage showed police taking protesters into custody.

PTI’s central convoy pushed back

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s central convoy led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Imran Khan’s wife reached Islamabad’s D-Chowk on Tuesday afternoon. But, in the evening, Rangers pushed back PTI supporters and regained control of the area, leading to resistance between the protesters and security forces. The PTI has announced a sit-in at the iconic public square until their demands are met.

Shortly after nightfall, the lights at D-Chowk were turned off. As of 8:30pm, reports indicated that security forces had begun operations in the area, with sounds of tear gas being fired.

There are also indications that a curfew may be imposed in the area.

Today marks the third day of protests by the PTI. Khan’s supporters from different cities started marching to the federal capital on Sunday amid roadblocks and internet services suspension.

In a meeting presided over by Islamabad’s Inspector General of Police Ali Nasir Rizvi, it was decided that the federal capital should be cleared of protesters on Tuesday (today). In preparation for this, the administration has started closing markets in adjacent sectors. Previously, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated that the IGP has been given a “free hand to deal with the protesters as he sees fit.”

Five, including three Rangers personnel, killed

At least five people, including three paramilitary soldiers, were killed during clashes between security forces and protesters.

Six individuals were injured during gunfire at the D-Chowk where PTI activists were dispersed by security forces using tear gas and rubber bullets. The area has now been cleared.

A heavy deployment of security personnel in the Red Zone pushed PTI supporters away from the sensitive location towards Polyclinic, Kamal Ataturk, and Fazal Haq avenues. Despite this, protesters made attempts to advance towards the D-Chowk but faced severe resistance from Rangers and police.

Islamabad police reported that the injuries occurred after PTI activists reached the spot and were subjected to gunfire from unknown individuals. Authorities confirmed that all the injured were participants in the PTI protest. But it remains unclear from where the gunfire originated.

A police officer on duty at D-Chowk stated that the injured were transported to Polyclinic Hospital for medical assistance. The officer added that both police and Rangers are deployed in the area to maintain order.

Security did not intervene with protesters: DC

Islamabad’s Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon confirmed that police and paramilitary forces did not intervene with the protesters.

While the container-carrying PTI leaders were en route to D-Chowk, party activists managed to bypass barriers and obstacles to reach the site.

PTI to stage sit-in at D-Chowk until next ‘call’

In a statement, the PTI said that party chairman Gohar Ali Khan would provide instructions on the future course of action after meeting former premier Khan at the Adiala Jail.

Earlier, PTI leader Arbab Naseem confirmed that the convoy was passing near the Ufone Tower in the Blue Area. Meanwhile, strict security measures have been implemented to manage the situation. According to Naseem, Bibi and Gandapur have announced a sit-in at the D-Chowk.

More Rangers personnel have been deployed at China Chowk. The main convoy, led by Gandapur, is approximately five kilometres behind schedule and was reported to be nearing PIMS around 3pm.

Videos of PTI workers climbing atop containers go viral on social media

Videos of PTI workers climbing atop containers at D-Chowk went viral on social media. Army officials could be seen mingling with the party workers before retreating.

However, the main PTI convoy led by Gandapur and Bushra Bibi reached PIMS Hospital near 3:30pm, still some distance away from D-Chowk.

Strict security measures are in place to manage the situation. The PTI convoy has successfully breached roadblocks at the G-9 signal and is advancing towards Srinagar Highway. Police and Rangers have established barricades at G-9 signal, using containers to block the road. Islamabad Police DIG Operations Ali Raza Alvi is leading the operation.

List of demands

Thousands broke through security barriers earlier on Tuesday on roads blocked with shipping containers as they responded to Khan’s call for the sit-in protest.

The government met Khan’s aides to try to calm the protests, but the attempt did not succeed, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said.

On Monday, a police officer was killed and dozens wounded in clashes as the protest approached Islamabad.

The march, led by Khan’s wife and his key aide Ali Amin Gandapur, who is the chief minister of the PTI stronghold of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, wound its way into the capital early on Tuesday.

Khan’s party has also called for a rollback of constitutional amendments it says the government made to handcuff the judiciary, which has questioned the legitimacy of several cases against the 72-year-old ex-premier.

The turmoil has rattled investors. Pakistan’s benchmark share index fell 3% in intraday trading on Tuesday.

Voted out of power by parliament in 2022 after he fell out with Pakistan’s powerful military, Khan faces charges ranging from corruption to instigation of violence, all of which he and his party deny.

Candidates backed by Khan’s party won the most seats in a parliamentary election in February, but a coalition cobbled together and led by Sharif took power.

Khan and the PTI say the polls were rigged following a military-backed crackdown to keep him out of power. The army has denied charges of election manipulation.

Road closures and Islamabad

The road closures have caused significant hardship for citizens, creating a climate of fear. Educational institutions remain closed for a second day, suspending all academic activities, including examinations, in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The Metrobus service is also suspended for a fourth consecutive day, along with other public transport systems like the Green Line and Blue Line. Attendance in both government and private offices is extremely low.

Late last night, PTI workers successfully breached a major roadblock at the 26 Number Chungi, leading to limited clashes on Srinagar Highway. However, a serious incident occurred when miscreants rammed a vehicle into Rangers personnel, resulting in the deaths of four Rangers officials. The army has been called in. Despite the army’s deployment, the PTI convoy continued its advance. The distance from G-11 to D-Chowk is approximately 14 kilometers.

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Upon arrival in G-11, Bushra Bibi, addressing supporters from a container, urged for peace, stating, “These are your brothers and sisters who are coming. The workers will reach D-Chowk.”

Additionally, reports confirm that Ali Amin Gandapur is stationed at number 26, with Bushra Bibi personally leading the convoy.