Pakistan govt denies protest-related deaths as Imran Khan's PTI party mourns

Over the decades of a turbulent postcolonial history, Pakistan has withstood multiple coups, more or less successful and more or less brutal.

Yet according to Aleema Khan, the sister of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, the recent crackdown on protests by security forces in Islamabad is unlike any other.

From prison, Mr. Khan declared Friday a day of mourning for the protesters his party said were killed in the violence, even as the government continues to deny the deaths.

Thousands of demonstrators had marched on D-Chowk, the square housing Pakistan's seat of power, when the lights went out on November 26.

Ms. Khan described the events that followed with emphasis.

“It was literally a massacre of protesters who were doing absolutely nothing but sitting on the roads,” she told ABC's The World.

Crackdown on protests in Pakistan leads to arrest of nearly 1,000 people

Thousands of people demanding the release of the former prime minister marched on Islamabad before fleeing amid a crackdown by authorities.

Ms Khan said protesters were killed indiscriminately as police went to demonstrations to demand the release of Imran Khan from prison where he has been held for over a year, resulting in at least 1 000 arrests.

The precise number of people arrested, the death toll and which side fired live ammunition are still disputed by government officials and supporters of the Khan-aligned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.

Caught between these groups, Pakistani journalists have reported stubborn resistance to their efforts to cover the unrest and its victims.

Count the victims

Although Ms Khan did not give details of the “dozens” she said died in Islamabad, the PTI named 12 people believed to have been killed by security forces, at least 10 of whom were shot dead.

Government ministers acknowledged the deaths of five security officers, but publicly denied that any protesters had been killed.

Journalist Munizae Jahangir was on the ground when the shooting began.

“Around 8 p.m. [on November 26] the lights went out throughout the area and shortly after, there was heavy gunfire,” she said.

“Tear gas filled the streets, making it difficult to leave.”

A death certificate for one of the 12 people PTI says were killed. (Provided: PTI)

As chaos intensified outside, Jahangir said he spoke to grieving families in Islamabad hospitals, including the father of 20-year-old Anees Shahzad.

Mr Shahzad's death certificate indicates he suffered cardiac arrest from shock after suffering a bullet wound to his pelvis.

The certificate was provided by the PTI but local journalists say it is legitimate.

The ABC was unable to independently verify its authenticity with the hospital.

Pakistani journalist Munizae Jahangir investigates the deaths of protesters. (Provided)

Other media outlets, such as Al Jazeera, spoke with members of Mr. Shahzad's family and other protesters who were reportedly killed during the demonstrations.

However, Jahangir said his efforts to obtain information from hospital staff encountered obstacles.

“Doctors refused to speak officially and it was difficult to verify the total number of victims,” Jahangir said.

A burned truck used by Bushra Bibi, wife of Imran Khan, a day after the protests.

Media blackout

Another journalist, who worked for respected Pakistani publications and asked to remain anonymous for his safety, said there was pressure from the Pakistani military to control the narrative surrounding the protests, with officials denying weapons were used by the security forces.

“Several forced confessions from protesters are shown on television,” he said.

He attended the protests and described restaurants being forcibly closed to prevent demonstrators from eating, and electricity being cut off in the area.

He also claimed that security forces had intervened to prevent journalists from counting the dead.

Tear gas was fired at protesters on November 26. (Reuters: Waseem Khan)

“We saw five bodies in two major hospitals, five bodies that journalists were allowed to see,” he said.

“Later, the Rangers [security forces] were deployed to hospitals, so journalists were not allowed to enter.

“Army people [told] to journalists to 'fuck you, go away'.”

The journalist said he believed PTI's claims that at least 12 protesters had been killed and estimated that 300 more people were missing.

“Either they were arrested and were not presented in the file[s]or they are missing or they disappeared for fear of arrest,” he said.

Several Pakistani government departments did not respond to ABC's requests for comment.

“[Protesters] attacked the capital with modern weapons and blamed the security forces. I challenge the entire PTI for anyone to show a video of a government official shooting at them,” Pakistani Minister of Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said on X.

Matiullah Jan was arrested while reporting on victims of the protests. (Reuters: Akhtar Soomro, file)

Media rights groups have condemned police actions against journalists during the protests, including the arrest of YouTube journalist Matiullah Jan, who was arrested while working at PIMS Hospital in Islamabad on November 27 and accused of “terrorism”.

After being released on bail three days later, Jan claimed to have obtained images from the hospital death register.

“We know there is a lot of anger from the establishment because of his reporting,” his lawyer told AFP.

Appeal to the Commonwealth

Ms Khan, who is also on bail in Pakistan and faces anti-state and terrorism charges after her arrest at a protest in October, told the ABC she faces further accusations while speaking to foreign media.

“The reason I'm on an Australian channel, let me tell you why: Australia is a member of the Commonwealth [alongside Pakistan]. If you look at the Commonwealth Charter it says [we share] democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

Aleema Khan, sister of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, speaking from her home in Lahore last year. (ABC: Avani Dias)

Seema is a former Pakistani government employee now living in Australia, who asked that only her first name be used for security reasons for her family still in Pakistan.

She echoed Aleema Khan's disappointment at the lack of widespread international criticism of the protest-related deaths.

“Why are the United States and the international community silent? » » asked Seema.

“They want the region [to remain] unstable, it remains volatile because it is the only way for them to contain China.

“On the other hand, volatility helps the Pakistani army, which is a 'for-hire army'.”

The ABC has contacted the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's high commission in Islamabad for comment.

At a news briefing as the unrest unfolded, U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the United States supports freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.

“We call on protesters to demonstrate peacefully and refrain from violence, and at the same time, we call on the Pakistani authorities to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and ensure respect for laws and the constitution of Pakistan as they strive to maintain law and order,” he said.

Day of mourning and disobedience

The November protests and subsequent crackdown are just the latest episode in a years-long political crisis in Pakistan.

Allegations of ill-treatment of Imran Khan in detention, including restricted access to health care, have further escalated tensions.

Supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan are expected to gather for further protests. (AP: Muhammad Sajjad)

Aleema Khan told the ABC the former prime minister was “tortured” in prison by prolonged solitary confinement without exercise, and was deprived of food and light.

Khan has been charged with dozens of cases, including terrorism related to the May 9, 2023 protests, which occurred after his first arrest that month.

He was ousted as prime minister by a motion of no confidence in 2022.

Through PTI, Imran Khan announced a day of mourning for those killed during the November protests and called for a “civil disobedience movement” to begin tomorrow unless suspected political prisoners are released and that a transparent investigation into the unrest be opened.

“The government will be responsible for the consequences of this move,” Khan’s statement said.

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