ISLAMABAD: PTI founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced a “grand gathering” in Peshawar on December 13 to honor the “martyrs” who lost their lives during the party’s recent rally in Islamabad.
On November 13, while incarcerated, Imran issued a “final call” for nationwide protests on November 24, demanding the restoration of the PTI’s electoral mandate, the release of detained party members, and the reversal of the 26th Amendment, which he claimed had bolstered a “dictatorial regime.”
The protests culminated in a day of intense clashes between PTI supporters and security forces in the federal capital. The standoff ended with the party’s leadership and supporters retreating from the Red Zone in the early hours of November 27. PTI alleged that 12 of its supporters were killed by law enforcement agencies (LEAs) during the protests. However, the government has consistently denied these claims, stating that security personnel were deployed without live ammunition.
In a message shared on his X account, Imran accused the state of engaging in “terrorism” against PTI supporters, stating that the deaths resulted from government actions and asserting that a “dictatorship” had been established in the country. He further claimed that “hundreds of PTI workers are missing” and urged the Supreme Court to intervene and uphold constitutional rights.
“We approached the Supreme Court, Lahore High Court, and Islamabad High Court over serious human rights violations, but no action was taken. This inaction has brought the country to this point,” he lamented.
In the same message, Imran announced the formation of a five-member negotiation team, including Omar Ayub Khan, Ali Amin Gandapur, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Salman Akram Raja, and Asad Qaiser. The team has been tasked with negotiating with the federal government on two key issues: the release of political prisoners and the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9, 2023, and November 26.
Imran warned that if these demands were not met, a civil disobedience movement would commence on December 14, holding the government accountable for its consequences.
