At least 12 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters were reportedly killed during the third day of the Islamabad march, according to the party’s Information Secretary, Sheikh Waqas Akram. Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, alongside Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, Akram clarified that these figures were verified through the party’s data collection system, countering speculation about a larger death toll.
He identified the deceased as Mubeen Malik (Abbottabad), Abdul Qadir (Abbottabad), Tariq Khan (Shangla), Malik Sadar Ali (Mardan), Muhammad Ali (Charsadda), Anis Satti (Kotli Sattiyan), Muhammad Ilyas (Islamabad), Sardar Shafiq Khan (Dera Ghazi Khan), Abdur Rashid (Qilla Saifullah), Ahmed Wali (Pishin), Imran Abbasi (Khanpur/Islamabad), and Dad Wali (Charsadda).
“These individuals were at PIMS [Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences], but families were initially told they died in accidents,” he claimed.
Thousands of PTI supporters had marched to Islamabad on November 24 for Imran Khan’s “final call” to release detained members and restore democracy. Despite reaching the federal capital, the protest was called off on the third day due to roadblocks, internet disruptions, and low turnout, particularly from Punjab.
Officials reported six additional deaths, including a police officer and three Rangers personnel, during the protests. Akram alleged that the protesters were peaceful and unprepared for live ammunition, which he claimed the government used indiscriminately.
PTI’s Latif Khosa, however, provided different statistics, claiming 218 supporters were killed and 1,900 injured based on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Advocate General’s data.
Akram accused the government of pressuring hospitals to suppress information about casualties and criticized the use of live fire against demonstrators exercising their constitutional rights. He warned that the incident would have lasting repercussions for the victims’ families.
Omar Ayub added that American-supplied weapons, including M-16 rifles, were used in the operation. He also alleged the use of sniper rifles and demanded a judicial commission, led by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, to investigate the matter.
Ayub further called for a court martial of a security officer who assaulted a PTI supporter praying atop a container. Both leaders criticized the government’s claim that no bullets were fired and condemned its handling of the protest.
