By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) - Amid clashes between supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan and police and paramilitary rangers that claimed several lives on Tuesday, forcing the government to call in the army to restore law and order, the protesters reached D-Chowk just over a hundred meters from Pakistan's parliament in Islamabad.

Videos posted on social media by Khan's supporters showed protesters celebrating their arrival at D-Chowk in the "Red Zone," the point of protest gathering announced by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, on the third day of protests that began simultaneously across the country.

Earlier in the morning, the government called in the army to restore law and order following reports of clashes and violence at the capital's entrance.

According to state-run Radio Pakistan, four paramilitary rangers and two police officers were killed in the violence, while the PTI claimed on social media that the two forces shot at 20 unarmed stalwarts, with the number of casualties increasing.

Security forces were seen warning protesters over a loudspeaker that no one would be permitted to enter the D-Chowk or other government buildings, and they were asked to record their peaceful protest.

PTI leaders, including former Federal Minister Murad Saeed and party spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram, also urged workers to hold peaceful sit-in protests at D-Chowk.

Earlier, the main convoy comprising thousands of vehicles began the march on Sunday from Peshawar, the capital of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, and finally entered Islamabad on Tuesday morning.

Hundreds of thousands of people from across Pakistan have been marching toward Islamabad since late Saturday.

The protesters are being led by KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi.

"We have finally reached Islamabad and now are slowly moving to D-Chowk, where we will hold a peaceful sit-in," Liaqat Ali, advisor to the KP chief minister, told Anadolu.

D-Chowk is the main venue in front of the Parliament House, which also connects to the President's House, the Prime Minister's House, and the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The government has already declared the venue a "Red Zone," saying no protest will be allowed there due to the location of all important buildings near the venue.

However, Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, said on Monday that PTI workers will reach D-Chowk and hold a peaceful protest there until Imran Khan's release.

The government has deployed the army in the capital Islamabad to protect the city, as Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko also arrived on Monday evening on a three-day visit to Pakistan.

The army has been deployed to ensure security, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.

Authorities have also slowed down the internet, and social media is not working properly.

The military has also been authorized to impose a curfew in any locality it deems necessary to maintain law and order.

The army has been ordered to take extreme measures, such as shooting rioters on sight, in case of a "deteriorating situation."

- Clashes on Islamabad roads

On Tuesday morning, heavy clashes broke out between the protesters and police inside and outside Islamabad when thousands of marchers reached the Islamabad Motorway interchange.

Video footage on TV and social media showed police firing teargas as members of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party attempted to enter the city.

According to state-run media, at least six security personnel have been killed since Monday during the ongoing protest as the government accused the PTI members of attacking members of the armed forces.

However, the PTI rejected the claim and said paramilitary personnel were killed after being run over by a vehicle of Pakistan Rangers.

The PTI also claimed that at least 20 protesters have been shot at by paramilitary forces, with the number of casualties rising.

The PTI also accused the government of firing on protesters from a helicopter. However, no independent source could verify the claim to Anadolu, and the government completely rejected it.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the deaths and ordered that the culprits who targeted the security personnel be identified and given exemplary punishment.

Information Minister Atta Tarar also claimed that the PTI brought some Afghan refugees to participate in the protest march, who also fired teargas shells at police. He threatened to use force if PTI entered the "Red Zone."

Meanwhile, several international and domestic flights are delayed and canceled at Islamabad International Airport as all routes towards the airport are closed.

Khan, the founder of the PTI, called for nationwide protest rallies and asked people to descend on the capital to take back the “looted” mandate in the wake of alleged poll rigging in the Feb. 8 general election and demand the release of political prisoners, revoking the controversial changes in the South Asian nation’s judiciary.

The government has closed educational institutions in Islamabad while all motorways and roads leading to the capital have been blocked as authorities placed thousands of commercial containers on the roads.

In many places, roads were dug up and trucks and heavy stones were placed on highways to block the rallies.

But the protesters cleared the roads and continued their march.

Khan, 72, asked his supporters to reach Islamabad, camp there, and not return home without the government giving in to the PTI’s demands.

The PTI has held dozens of such nationwide rallies and demonstrations since Khan was ousted from power in April 2022.