PTI team meets Imran twice in Adiala as protesters defy law-enforcers to reach Islamabad: Cop martyred, Rangers man hurt as govt-PTI talks continue

ISLAMABAD: Amid mounting tensions, clashes, teargas shelling, violence and death of a policeman, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) convoys entered the federal capital territory on Monday.

Despite blockades and severe clashes with the law enforcers, the central convoy of incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan’s party entered Islamabad. PTI’s main convoy from Peshawar, led by Bushra Bibi, the wife of Imran Khan, and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, entered the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) till filing of the report. The convoy reached Hasan Abdal via Attock. When the convoy entered the Punjab area, the police fired tear-gas shells at the Attock Bridge Chhich Interchange and Ghazi Barotha Canal.

The police also fired tear-gas at the participants of the convoy coming from Haripur, led by Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub at the Attock Bridge. The participants set fire to the greenbelt around it and a Suzuki vehicle parked on the Ghazi Bridge. Later police also fired tear-gas when the convoy reached Taxila check-post. But the police had to retreat due to advancement of the PTI workers.

The PTI convoy, led by Taimur Masood from Taxila, also joined Omar Ayub s convoy at the check-post. Later Gandapur and Bushra Bibi addressed the party workers and said the protest would continue till the release of Imran Khan.

A truck carrying locally manufactured industrial fans was seen in the PTI convoy to protect the participants from the effects of teargas shelling. The large fans fitted on a truck are being probably used for the first time in a political march in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the federal government “offered the PTI to stage sit-in at Parade Ground or Peshawar Mor during a round of talks between the two sides. According to sources, from the government side, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Amir Muqam, and Rana Sanaullah, and from the PTI, Asad Qaiser and Shibli Faraz were part of negotiations.

The federal government requested the PTI leaders not to head towards Islamabad due to a business conference with Belarus investors scheduled for Tuesday. They added that the PTI leaders demanded the immediate release of jailed party founder Imran Khan to make progress in talks.

However, PTI’s head of the policy think tank Raoof Hasan Monday said the party would decide where to stage sit-in in the federal capital.

The PTI leadership had two back to back meetings Monday with the party’s founder Imran Khan in Adiala Jail regarding their next phase of protest. The second meeting was held late night again by PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan-led delegation in the jail, following their negotiations with the government representatives in the federal capital.

It was learnt that PTI team besides briefing the founder chairman of the party’s protest caravan reaching the outskirts of the federal capital, apprised him of their talks with the government held earlier.

Imran also reportedly got recorded his message for his spouse Bushra Bibi, CM KPK Ali Amin Gandapur and party workers and supporters about the next phase of protest. However, the PTI dismissed this report as fake.

According to the sources, the PTI visitors of the jail, presented two options, given by the government side, to Imran for staging sit-in and holding back their caravan for the time-being in view of the arrival of the Belarusian Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko and a strong businessmen delegation.

This correspondent tried to seek comment on the talks so far held with the government regarding their demands and the government response thereon, however, Barrister Gohar was not available on his mobile phone; he also did not respond to the voice message.

Leader of Opposition in the Senate Syed Shibli Faraz, who clarified, was not part of the negotiations, however, sounded optimistic about a positive outcome of the on-going process of talks. When demands are forwarded, there are often possibilities of finding a middle way and opportunities are created for positive results,” he maintained and referred to the ‘things’ from the party, which had reached him so far.

He contended that to begin with, the government could initiate the process of releasing all the jailed political workers and seriously weighing the option of reviewing the 26th constitutional amendment.

Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail after the meeting, Gohar Khan described it as an important meeting during which Imran Khan was briefed about the PTI’s nationwide movement. Khan provided guidance for the PTI leadership and workers, which would soon be shared with the media following consultations with the party’s leadership.

Responding to a question, Gohar clarified that the discussion did not involve calling off the march on Islamabad. He stressed that Imran Khan’s call for the march was ‘final’ and non-retractable, although negotiations were ongoing. “We will share details soon. Yes, they are happening,” he said about talks.

When approached for his comment on the reports of parleys between his party and the government, PTI Spokesman and Information Secretary Waqas Akram said He said certain things have been discussed with Imran Khan, but the engagement could not be converted into a dialogue so far.

Speaking in a private TV channel’s talk show, he maintained that as per their strategy, all convoys would enter the federal capital together while the major one was presently at Chungi No 26 currently. He said that that reaching Islamabad was the goal and that let’s see how long the government would keep the capital city closed.

Addressing protesters, Bushra Bibi said the protest would not be called off until release of Imran Khan. Raoof said the slowdown of the PTI convoy was part of their strategy and that the decision to enter Islamabad had to be taken by the leadership. “The party will decide where to hold a sit-in in Islamabad; today Barrister Gohar, Barrister Saif have taken instructions from the founder of PTI; Peshawar Mor is not our destination,” he noted.

On the other hand, a police constable, identified as Mubashir, was killed and dozens others sustained injuries as a result of clashes with the PTI activists on Monday. The police lodged the first information report (FIR) against top PTI leadership including Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, former president Dr Arif Alvi, KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur, Umar Ayub and others over their involvement in violent protest. Criminal cases were registered in three different police station of Rawalpindi under Terrorism Acts with 14 other sections of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned attacks of law-enforcers and death of Constable Mubashir. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi warned PTI protesters to move to Sangjani area in Islamabad, saying that otherwise the authorities will be compelled to take “extreme steps”.

“We will take extreme steps if they don’t go to Sangjani,” said the minister while speaking to the media late Monday. The interior minister said PTI leaders met jailed party founder Imran Khan in Adiala Jail, but categorically stated that no negotiations are taking place with the leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

“I want to clarify this that no negotiations are taking place,” the security czar said as he visited D-Chowk area in the federal capital. Without divulging details of the purported talks, the interior minister said: “Wait for a few hours on talks.”

Naqvi said they were trying to protect their “own people” and warned that whoever attempted to reach D-Chowk would be arrested “definitely”. “As per my information they have got approval from Adiala Jail [Imran Khan],” he added.

The interior minister said the authorities would not allow the PTI to stage protest at D-Chowk. He said the injured policemen had bullet wounds. He said the police did not respond to firing. He said saving lives was government’s first priority. He warned the protesters that the government had the option of imposing curfew and invoking Article 245 (calling in armed forces to act in aid of civil power) if they crossed the redline.

Police sources claimed that at least 70 police officials of Rawalpindi and Islamabad sustained minor and major injuries during the clash with the PTI protestors. A police checkpost at Chungi No. 26, Islamabad, was set on fire as the PTI workers clashed with police to reach D-Chowk.

According to police reports, the ‘miscreants’ pelted Rangers and police with stones and opened fire unprovoked. A Rangers soldier was seriously injured due to violence by the ‘miscreants’. He was shifted to the Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi in critical condition. Police said the ‘miscreants’ were equipped with all kinds of weapons and ammunition. Police warned that attacks on law-enforcement agencies by the ‘miscreants’ would not be tolerated under any circumstances. Identification of all miscreants was ongoing and the elements would be brought to justice at all costs.

Another case was registered at Taxila police station against Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, Dr Arif Alvi among others for violent protests. More than 300 PTI leaders and workers including Omar Ayub, Ali Amin Gandapur, Aleema Khan, Azam Swati, Taimur Masood and Shehryar Riaz have been named in the case.

On the other hand, Lahore police arrested more than 90 PTI workers and registered cases against them. The arrested accused include Rana Zameer Jhaido, Rana Ehsan, Hafiz Zeeshan, Irfan, Hazrat Gul, Naeem Badshah, Ansar, Imdad, Salman, Faiz, Arshad, Usman, Sharafat, Sunil, Waqas, Shabbir, Usman, Israr, Waqar, Fayyaz, Hamza, and others.

In Faisalabad also police filed multiple cases against PTI Chairman Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, and 250 other party members over allegations of inciting violent protests in the Faisalabad.

In one incident reported at Ghulam Muhammad Abad police station, a convoy of around 45 PTI workers was intercepted on Narwala Road. The FIR alleges that the protesters, armed with batons, stones, and firearms, vandalised property and attacked police officers after being informed of the imposition of Section 144.

Police arrested 35 individuals, allegedly recovered weapons, and claimed the violence was premeditated under Imran Khan’s directives. Another case was registered at Jaranwala Sadar police station, where PTI members were accused of blocking roads, damaging a police van, and attacking law enforcement officers. Police detained 12 individuals and reported similar tactics of violence and disruption.

Additional cases were lodged at Nishatabad police station, implicating senior PTI leaders in orchestrating violent demonstrations on Sargodha Road. In Lalamusa, local authorities registered a case under 14 sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), as well as the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), against PTI caravan members heading from Lalamusa to Islamabad.

In the wake of protests led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Gujrat district remains heavily disrupted as major routes continue to be blocked by district administration, leaving residents and commuters in a state of frustration. The closure of key roads entered its fourth day, with containers and trenches sealing off crucial entry and exit points.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government extended the enforcement of Section 144 across the province for an additional three days. The restriction, effective from Tuesday, November 26, to Thursday, November 28, prohibits all forms of protests, gatherings, rallies, processions, sit-ins, and similar activities.

Separately, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari condemned actions of “Tehreek-e-Fasad”, accusing the party of martyring police officer Mubashir and injuring 70 others. She told Bushra Bibi that she was not a jungle where she could act like a ‘Sultana Daku’ to free her husband.

Azma said Bushra Bibi was inciting Pashtuns to attack the state, leading armed mobs, and adding a religious veneer to their aggression. Reacting over criticism of Bushra Bibi, PTI spokesman vehemently denounced the Sharif and Zardari families’ courtiers for spewing venom against PTI’s peaceful protesters and wife of the PTI founder. He alleged that the vicious campaign clearly indicated the growing desperation and frustration among the ruling stooges and their henchmen.