Islamabad, Pakistan – In a recent escalation of civil unrest, the Pakistani government sanctioned a substantial crackdown against demonstrators from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, resulting in violent clashes that have left 14 dead and approximately 830 injured. The confrontation began during a PTI protest held on November 24 in the nation’s capital, intensifying rapidly with both protesters and security forces suffering casualties and severe injuries.
The deceased includes nine protesters and five security personnel, while reports indicate that injuries afflicted 564 security rangers and 266 protesters. The turmoil further extended to the vandalizing of private and public vehicles, and even assaults on the state-run media outlet, PTV.
In a contrasting report from the government, Information and Broadcasting Minister Atta Ullah Tarar, during a nocturnal visit to Islamabad’s conflict zones including D-chowk and Jinnah Avenue, denied any fatalities stemming from the confrontation. He assured that security forces did not employ live fire against protesters and maintained that only non-lethal means were used for crowd dispersal.
This statement diverges sharply from the experiences reported by protesters and some local emergency services. For example, a list from the Federal Government Polyclinic mentioned 28 individuals admitted with severe gunshot wounds—two of whom later succumbed to their injuries.
The federal government had earlier taken drastic measures by invoking Article 245, which deployed the Pakistan army with directives to issue shoot-at-sight orders should anyone escalate the riotous situations. The state-run Radio Pakistan broadcasted that the army was to deal rigorously with what it termed “miscreants.”
PTI, the principal opposition party led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, has identified eight fatalities, including Anis Shehzad Satti, Malik Mubeen Aurangzeb, Abdul Qadir, Malik Safdar Ali, Ahmed Wali, Muhammad Ilyas, and Abdul Rashid. The protest, propelled by prominent PTI figures including Khan’s spouse Bushra Bibi and Ali Amin Gandapur, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, met stern resistance from government forces, culminating in a series of deadly encounters.
The increasing death toll and the severe nature of the injuries have drawn national and international concern, calling for restraint and urging a resolution that respects human rights and democratic expressions of dissent. Calls for an independent inquiry into the events have surfaced among human rights groups and international observers, stressing the need for accountability and the protection of civil liberties in times of political crises.
As the situation unfolds, the tension in Islamabad remains palpable, with the government maintaining a heavy security presence in key areas to prevent further unrest. Both sides are seemingly entrenched in their positions, casting a shadow over prospects for a peaceful resolution in the immediate future. As the nation grapples with this political turmoil, the international community continues to watch closely, signaling hope for a diplomatic and non-violent solution.