This page reproduces a chronological summary extracted from BBC’s live coverage of PTI’s protest on 25 Nov 2024. For more details, see “Imran Khan supporters pushed back from heart of barricaded Pakistan capital” on BBC.
25 November 2024
- Thousands of supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan begin marching toward Islamabad from various regions across Pakistan, demanding his release.
- 09:21 AM: Protesters clash with police as they approach the capital. Police use tear gas, while protesters hurl stones.
- Authorities put Islamabad under lockdown, blocking major highways and suspending mobile services in certain areas.
- 09:28 AM: Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, leads a vehicular convoy into the capital, urging protesters to speed up and reach their destination without delays.
- 09:41 AM: Reports of ongoing clashes emerge, with police claiming injuries to 14 officers due to stone-pelting. Protesters allege tear gas and baton charges by police.
- 10:04 AM: Hundreds of protesters are arrested across Islamabad, but the movement continues.
- 10:28 AM: Protesters identify D Chowk, near key government buildings, as their final destination.
- 10:51 AM: Islamabad High Court declares the protests unlawful, citing the arrival of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko for a state visit as a reason to prioritize public safety.
- 01:27 PM: Locals nickname Islamabad “Containeristan” due to the widespread use of shipping containers as barricades. Social media platforms like WhatsApp face restrictions.
- 05:32 PM: A convoy from Balochistan, which had traveled for four days, reaches the outskirts of Islamabad despite police resistance.
- 05:45 PM: Roads to D Chowk are heavily barricaded, with a large police and paramilitary presence in riot gear.
- 06:14 PM: Protests intensify as convoys close in on Islamabad. Reports of clashes, arrests, and blockades continue.
- 08:00 PM: Protesters regroup after initial attempts to reach D Chowk are dispersed. Police increase the number of barricades.
26 November 2024
- 12:06 PM: Convoys reach Islamabad’s main Srinagar Highway. Protesters clash with police at Zero Point, the boundary to the Red Zone.
- 12:22 PM: The Pakistani army is deployed under Article 245 of the Constitution. Authorities confirm the deaths of several security personnel and injuries to over 100 officers during the protests.
- 01:02 PM: Security forces fire tear gas to stop protesters from advancing toward D Chowk.
- 02:27 PM: Paramilitary forces prepare to move to D Chowk to prevent the sit-in planned by protesters.
- 02:58 PM: Protesters breach barriers and reach D Chowk, claiming they will not leave until Imran Khan is released.
- 03:32 PM: Protesters climb shipping containers placed as blockades around D Chowk.
- 03:43 PM: The Deputy Commissioner confirms protesters have reached D Chowk. The situation is temporarily peaceful.
- 05:15 PM: Reports emerge of several media organizations being attacked during the protests. PTI denies involvement and condemns the attacks.
- 05:54 PM: Protesters state they are demonstrating for their country and will not leave until Imran Khan is released.
- 06:18 PM: Police begin dispersing protesters from D Chowk after hours of occupation. Many protesters relocate to surrounding areas.
- 06:54 PM: Internet disruptions in Islamabad and other cities hamper coverage and sharing of protest-related content.
- 07:28 PM: From jail, Imran Khan issues a statement urging supporters to “fight to the end” and hold the government accountable.
- 07:54 PM: Tensions remain high in Islamabad as PTI supporters regroup in nearby areas, avoiding confrontations with security forces.
- 08:35 PM: By the end of the day, D Chowk is cleared of protesters. Police and paramilitary forces regain control of the area. Reports indicate casualties among both security personnel and protesters.
