The United States asked Pakistani authorities to uphold the country's laws and human rights as thousands of people in the country protested against a crackdown to demand the release of former prime minister Imran Khan.

On Monday, thousands of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf demonstrators entered the national capital's territory at the party founder Khan's request, resulting in violence that left at least one police officer dead and numerous more injured. The 72-year-old former premier, who has been incarcerated since August of last year, issued a "final call" on November 13 for nationwide protests on November 24. He denounced the 26th amendment's passage, which he claimed strengthened a "dictatorial regime," the stolen mandate, and the arbitrary arrests of people.

"In Pakistan and around the world, we support freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association. We call on protesters to demonstrate peacefully and refrain from violence," stated Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the State Department, during his regular press briefing on Monday. "At the same time, we call on Pakistani authorities to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to ensure respect for Pakistan's laws and constitution as they work to maintain law and order," said he in response to a query. He also stated that the United States backs Pakistanis' right to peaceful protest.

The marchers, led by Khan's wife Bushra Bibi and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, set out from the militancy-ravaged province on Sunday with a plan of staging a sit-in at the D-Chowk, which is near the Supreme Court, the Parliament, the PM Office, and the Presidency. The government banned rallies by enforcing Section 144, a law from the colonial era that prohibits political gatherings because a high-level delegation from Belarus was visiting Pakistan. However, the protesters continued their demonstration, removing barricades and clashing with security forces.