Following the apparent failure of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) “do-or-die” protest, incarcerated party leader Imran Khan has warned the government of launching a “civil disobedience” movement if his demands—specifically a judicial inquiry into the crackdown on PTI supporters—are not addressed.
In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), Imran, who claims to hold a “trump card,” announced the formation of a five-member negotiation committee tasked with engaging the federal government. The committee, which includes prominent figures such as Omar Ayub Khan, Ali Amin Gandapur, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Salman Akram Raja, and Asad Qaiser, will focus on two key issues: the release of “political prisoners” currently facing trial and the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9, 2023, as well as the late-night crackdown on PTI protesters on November 26.
Imran Khan made it clear that if the government fails to meet these demands, he will initiate a civil disobedience movement starting on December 14, holding the government accountable for the consequences of such a move.
The PTI’s highly publicized protest in Islamabad—intended to secure Imran Khan’s release after over a year in custody—ended abruptly following a midnight government crackdown on the demonstrators. PTI has claimed that at least 12 of its workers were killed and over 1,000 arrested during the protests. The government, however, has denied using live ammunition and reported that four law enforcement officers, including three Rangers personnel and a policeman, were killed in the clashes.
In addition to the civil disobedience warning, Imran Khan announced a “grand gathering” in Peshawar on December 13 to honor the party’s “martyrs,” whom he says were killed during the Islamabad protest. He further claimed that hundreds of PTI workers remain “missing” and called on the Supreme Court to take action, urging it to fulfill its constitutional role.
“We approached the Supreme Court, as well as the Lahore and Islamabad High Courts, over these serious human rights violations, but no action was taken,” he added.
