One killed, dozens injured as supporters of Imran Khan protest in Pakistan

Authorities enforced a security lockdown for the past two days in the country after Khan called for the march on parliament and a sit-in to demand his release.

On Monday, one police officer was shot and killed, at least 119 others were injured and 22 police vehicles were torched in clashes just outside Islamabad and elsewhere in Punjab province, provincial police chief Usman Anwar said. Two officers were in critical condition, he added.

The PTI said scores of its workers have also been injured in the rally so far.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said those responsible for the death of the police officer would face justice.
Speaking at the funeral of Constable Muhammad Mubashir in Rawalpindi, Naqvi said it’s not the first time police officers have been killed during political protests.

“Last time too they assaulted … our personnel who were martyred, and today we had to have another funeral again,” Naqvi told the media.

“Those who called the protesters, they will be held responsible for this death. We will not spare anybody, and there will be cases registered against all of them.”

The protest march, which Khan has described as the “final call”, is one of many his party has held to seek his release since he was jailed in August last year.

His party said the jailed leader’s third wife, Bushra Bibi, and a key aide, Ali Amin Gandapur, who is the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, led the march that arrived just outside Islamabad on Monday night.

“Physically, it has been very challenging to constantly travel in this cold, but our spirits are high, and we look forward to reach our destination later tonight,” PTI leader Asim Arbab told Al Jazeera on arriving at the entry point to Islamabad.