By 
27-11-24
Chiara Bellini
Pakistan Researcher,
Global Human Rights Defence.
In the early hours of Wednesday, November 27th, 2024, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership announced a temporary suspension of the peaceful protest that took place over the last three days to demonstrate against the Pakistani Government’s political oppressive measures and PTI founder Imran Khan’s detention (The Express Tribune, 2024). The protest was meant to stage a sit-in (al Jazeera, 2024). The protesters marched on Islamabad demanding the release of former PM Khan and were met, according to the PTI leaders and the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur, with violence by law enforcement, arbitrary arrests and detentions, amounting to a violation of their right to freedom of assembly (The Express Tribune, 2024). Due to the high-risk levels of the situation, CM Gandapur and Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, fled the scene, but returned safely soon after (The News International, 2024).
According to the PTI’s central media staff, the Government’s brutal reaction to the protest, and the subsequent crackdown by law enforcement, caused the death of eight PTI members and the arrest of 1000 protesters in the capital (The News International, 2024) (Al Jazeera, 2024). However, the Government dismissed these accusations, while confirming the death of three Rangers personnel and two police force personnel (GeoNews, 2024). Meanwhile, Islamabad has been cleared, despite CM Gandapur stating that the protests will not end until Imran Khan will call them off (GeoNews, 2024).
Sources and further readings:
CM Gandapur claims PTI ‘dharna still on’, says only Imran Khan has the authority to call it off. (2024, November 27). Geo News. Retrieved on November 27, 2024, from https://www.geo.tv/latest/576565-cm-gandapur-claims-pti-dharna-still-on-says-only-imran-khan-has-authority-to-call-it-off
PTI’s ‘final call’ still on: CM Gandapur in Mansehra. (2024, November 27). The Express Tribune. Retrieved on November 7, 2024, from https://tribune.com.pk/story/2512273/ptis-final-call-still-on-cm-gandpur-in-mansehra
Pakistan police crackdown clears Imran Khan protesters from Islamabad. (2024, November 27). Al Jazeera. Retrieved on November 27, 2024, from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11/27/pakistan-police-crackdown-clears-khan-protestors-from-islamabadPTI claims govt planned violence, suspends ‘peaceful’ protest. (2024, November 27). The News International. Retrieved on November 27, 2024, from https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1255446-pti-claims-govt-planned-violence-suspends-peaceful-protest
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