Protests demanding the release of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan were temporarily suspended in Islamabad on Wednesday after a major police raid dispersed demonstrators.

The demonstrations, organized by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, had turned deadly, with at least six reported fatalities, including four paramilitary troops and two protesters.

Authorities reopened roads connecting Islamabad with the rest of the country, ending a lockdown that had been in place since Sunday. "All roads are being reopened, and the demonstrators have been dispersed," Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed.

Overnight Police Raid Ends Protests

Security forces launched a large-scale overnight operation in the capital, dispersing PTI supporters who had entered Islamabad during a "long march" from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. The protesters, who had gathered at D-Chowk square near the heavily fortified Red Zone, had earlier broken through police blockades of shipping containers.

Damaged vehicles were seen at the protest site, and city workers were deployed to clean the roads in the aftermath. One vehicle, reportedly used by Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, was charred by flames during the demonstrations.

Bushra Bibi was confirmed safe and had returned to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province alongside Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, according to PTI's Peshawar leader Mohammad Asim.

Protests Highlight Growing Political Crisis

The PTI protests were sparked by the detention of Imran Khan, who faces over 150 criminal cases he claims are politically motivated. Khan was ousted from power in 2022 after a no-confidence vote in parliament.

Since the start of the demonstrations, hundreds of PTI supporters have been detained, with thousands reportedly arrested in the days leading up to the march. The political turmoil continues to deepen divisions in the country, with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, a PTI stronghold, playing a pivotal role in the protests.

The Road Ahead

As tensions subside for now, it remains unclear whether PTI will resume its protests. The political and legal battles surrounding Khan’s leadership and the party’s demands are likely to remain contentious in Pakistan’s volatile political landscape.