- The PTI demonstration caused deaths among the demonstrators, the police: report.
- Some demonstrators wore floods, tear gas, firearms.
- “The media should have been allowed to associate the situation on the ground.”
Lahore: The Pakistan Human Rights Commission (HRCP) called for an independent and impartial investigation into the events that occurred during the November 26 demonstration by Pakistan Tehreek-E-insaf (PTI), calling for administration To “use the force excessively and disproportionately.”.
“Contrary to the affirmations of the federal government, the demonstration led by the PTI-Islamabad on November 26, 2024 led to loss of lives allegedly among the demonstrators as well as deaths reported among the members of the security personnel,” said a report on Monday of facts published by the Commission.
The report comes after PTI’s talks with the government collapsed after the former ruling party refused to attend the fourth cycle of discussion on January 28 on the failure of the last to train judicial commissions to investigate On events related to the riots of May 9 and in November 2024.
On November 26, Islamabad witnessed battles between the law enforcement agencies and the PTI supporters while the latter spanned D-CHOWK for the last party show in the midst of the tear gas bombardments intense.
However, a repression at the end of the evening of the government ended with a hasty retirement from the main leaders and supporters of the PTI, after which the party suddenly ended its protest.
Ferocious clashes led to the martyrdom of at least four members of the Rangers staff as well as two police officers with the former ruling party claiming that 12 of its demonstrators died. The demonstrations led to arrests and several cases registered against workers and party supporters.
In today’s report, the HRCP said that a high -level intelligence mission documents the oral testimonies of state representatives, the management of the PTI, journalists in the field and the families of seven people who would have been killed during the demonstration.
“The mission is deeply concerned about the allegations according to which the hospital administrations and the police have retained the bodies of the victims until their family has agreed not to prosecute any legal action.
“While the hospital administrations refused to speak with the investigation team, the accounts of the journalists and the families of the alleged victims suggest that these hospitals can hide information,” he added.
Citing reports, the Commission said that some demonstrators brought the fronds, tear gas and firearms. “Although the right to the peaceful assembly is guaranteed constitutionally, it must remain within the limits of the law.”
Meanwhile, the report also called the administration to demonstrate “a clear lack of competence in the management of the protest and used force excessively and in a disproportionate manner”.
“Although the mission tried to contact the Minister of the Interior to find out about the use of live ammunition against the demonstrators, he was not available to meet the team,” he added.
The mission also expressed its alarm in the face of the mainstream media of the whole event, which may have resulted from “coercion or self -censorship of the state”. “The media should have been authorized to assess the situation on the field without obstacle and to report the facts,” he said.
The report urged the government to immediately announce an independent and impartial investigation into these events, involving the families of the alleged victims, the PTI and other political stakeholders.