FIR filed against 48 protesters after march toward Islamabad Red Zone

Police in Islamabad on Monday registered a case against 48 people for protesting in the Red Zone during demonstrations against US and Israel strikes in Iran, as authorities moved to tighten security in the federal capital following violent clashes.

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the first information report (FIR) was lodged at the Secretariat police station on behalf of the state and includes serious charges under anti-terrorism provisions, as well as sections relating to arson, vandalism and attempted murder. The FIR has reportedly been sealed.

The unrest followed the rapid spread of reports regarding the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, which triggered protests in parts of the country, especially in Islamabad, Karachi and Gilgil-Baltistan on Sunday.

Local media reported that several people were injured in clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement personnel, while the district administration confirmed that Section 144 had been imposed to ban public gatherings in Islamabad.

As tensions escalated, Islamabad police fired tear gas to disperse crowds and sealed off the Red Zone, the high-security area housing key government buildings and diplomatic missions.

Despite the restrictions, demonstrators gathered at Aabpara Chowk and began marching toward the Diplomatic Enclave, nearly two kilometres away.

The number of protesters swelled as rallies arriving from Rawalpindi and along Jinnah Avenue joined the march near Serena Chowk.

Thousands of demonstrators, described as agitated, reportedly pushed past police lines and reached near the Foreign Office building on Constitution Avenue, directly opposite the Diplomatic Enclave.

Security forces had established multiple layers of defence, with police forming the first line, Rangers positioned behind them and armed forces personnel forming a third cordon.

After confrontations, law enforcement officials pushed protesters back toward a park adjacent to the Islamabad Serena Hotel on the Aabpara side. During the clashes, protesters allegedly set a police checkpost ablaze.

Meanwhile, the Embassy of the United States, Islamabad, issued a security alert advising American nationals in Pakistan to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary visits to public places. The embassy also cancelled all visa appointments and American Citizen Services scheduled for Monday, March 2.

Reporter: Muhammad Awais