Following the deadly crackdown on its Islamabad protest, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced its intention to file FIRs against top government officials, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in connection with the deaths of party workers.
In a press conference in Peshawar, PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram accused the government of concealing the facts and arresting those who speak out. “The government has been trying to hide the truth, and anyone who attempts to expose it is being arrested,” Akram said. He confirmed that FIRs would be filed against PM Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar for their alleged role in the deaths of the protesters.
This follows a late-night crackdown on PTI workers who had gathered at Islamabad’s D-Chowk for a “do-or-die” protest, demanding the release of Imran Khan. PTI claims that hundreds of its workers were shot during the operation, with casualties ranging from eight to 40. However, the government denies any fatalities during the operation to disperse the protest.
Akram also criticized the government’s handling of the situation, stating that PTI has video evidence showing how many bullets were fired at the protesters. “At least 12 people were killed on the spot, and their bodies were not returned to their families,” he alleged. He accused the authorities of pressuring Polyclinic Hospital in Islamabad to hide the details of the deceased and injured protesters.
Despite the crackdown, PTI’s legal teams are assisting the arrested workers, with Akram emphasizing that they are “peaceful protesters,” not “terrorists.” The spokesperson also condemned the actions of the Punjab government, accusing it of raiding the homes of PTI’s provincial MNAs.
In light of ongoing tensions, Akram declared that PTI would introduce a resolution in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly seeking a ban on the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), in response to Balochistan’s resolution calling for a ban on PTI.
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has called for the immediate completion of lists for PTI workers killed or missing during the Islamabad protest. He assured that families of the deceased would receive compensation, and legal action would be taken against law enforcement agencies involved in the crackdown.
Gandapur further reiterated the party’s commitment to its workers, stating, “Our workers are assets, and we will not abandon them during this difficult period.”