A district court in Islamabad recently state that it is set to hear a petition on December 23 regarding the alleged deaths of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters during a protest last month, which was staged to demand the release of party founder Imran Khan.
The petition, filed by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, accuses several high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, senior police officers, and others of being involved in the killings and disappearances of PTI workers.
Barrister Khan, speaking to the media outside the court, stated that he was in favor of “comprehensive, unconditional negotiations” to resolve the ongoing issue.
The petition alleges that authorities were responsible for the deaths of 12 PTI members, with 38 others reportedly injured from gunfire, and 139 individuals missing in connection with the protest. The petition highlights the serious concerns surrounding the handling of the demonstration by Pakistani authorities.
District Judge Khan has instructed PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan to appear at the hearing on December 23 to provide additional information.
Imran Khan Responds to the Tragedy
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, in a statement on Saturday, voiced his outrage over the actions of the current government against PTI protestors. On social media, Khan compared the events in Islamabad to the infamous Jallianwala Bagh massacre, asserting that the tragedy would not be forgotten.
“Just like the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, neither we nor the people will ever forget the tragedy of the Islamabad Massacre. Even after a hundred years, people still remember the massacre by General Dyer, although there were neither cameras nor media at that time,” Khan wrote.
Khan assured his supporters that evidence of the alleged massacre was being gathered, and vowed that it would soon come to light. He also urged PTI members and activists to speak out against the incident in Parliament, the judiciary, and through international media channels.
To honor the victims of the violence, Khan declared December 15 as a day of mourning and prayer to commemorate those killed during the Islamabad protest. The observance will take place in Pakistan and among PTI supporters worldwide.
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