Pakistan police clash with Imran Khan supporters after province takeover

Clashes broke out in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday between law enforcement and loyalists of imprisoned former leader Imran Khan, following the federal government's decision to dissolve the regional administration run by his political faction.

Officials from Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party stated that officers discharged tear gas canisters and live ammunition at demonstrators protesting the imposition of direct federal oversight in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The party reported that at least five individuals suffered injuries during the unrest, with the most severe confrontations occurring in Bara, an area roughly 15 kilometers outside the provincial capital of Peshawar.

Authorities in the province strongly denied the accusations of live gunfire. Samar Haroon Bilour, an information representative for the regional administration, dismissed the claims as groundless, asserting that false accounts were being circulated online using synthetic media. Bilour maintained that security personnel acted in a measured manner to curb rioting and property destruction. Around 50 demonstrators were taken into custody, and four legal cases were initiated under counterterrorism statutes, according to the administration.

The unrest followed an emergency declaration enacted by the central government on Sunday, which stripped PTI of its authority over its sole remaining provincial stronghold. Islamabad defended the emergency measure by pointing to escalating militant activity in the region. PTI leaders rejected that explanation, characterizing the move as an unlawful political maneuver designed to sideline their organization. Spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari described the takeover as a coup and cautioned that civil unrest could broaden across the country.

During the turmoil in Bara, unknown individuals torched a branch of the National Database and Registration Authority and forced their way into adjacent offices, according to PTI information secretary Ikram Khatana. Provincial authorities stated that investigators are reviewing witness testimonies and recorded footage to identify those responsible for damaging the state facility.

The removal of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial cabinet marks the latest escalation against Khan, who has remained behind bars since 2023 facing a litany of charges, including corruption and allegations of orchestrating attacks on military facilities. Several of his family members, including his spouse and three sisters, alongside numerous party workers, also remain detained. Khan maintains that all charges against him and his circle are fabricated for political motives.