Pakistani forces push praying man off stack of containers during pro-Imran Khan rally
Pakistani security forces pushed a man off a seven-metre-tall stack of cargo containers during a massive anti-army demonstration in Islamabad on Tuesday, where protesters gathered to demand the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
In a video circulating on social media, the man was seen praying on top of the container stack before a member of the security forces pushed him off, causing him to cling to the edge of the container before falling seven metres onto the ground. His condition is unknown.
On Sunday, thousands of Khan supporters and his political party, Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), began making their way to the capital, Islamabad, travelling from different parts of the country to demand his release from jail.
On Monday and Tuesday, those protesters were met by Pakistani police and security forces who were given shoot-to-kill orders to try to stop the crowds, according to The Guardian.
The demonstrators marched until they reached the D-Chowk area in the central part of the city. There, the protesters were pushed back by security forces who fired tear gas into the crowds.
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In the ensuing violence, the Pakistani government said that four security officers were killed during the demonstrations. The exact number of civilians killed by security forces is unknown.
PTI leaders said dozens of protesters were killed by live fire from police and the army, and released the names of eight they said had been killed. Middle East Eye could not independently verify the number.
Pakistani security forces were filmed pushing a praying protester off a seven-metre tall container stack amid demonstrations demanding the release of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/LaSYvVeGGb
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) November 28, 2024
The Guardian, citing official sources, said at least 17 civilians were killed and hundreds injured.
Pakistani journalist Matiullah Jan, who was trying to investigate the claims of how many people were killed, was picked up off the street on Wednesday night and charged with terrorism, according to his lawyer.
PTI said on Wednesday that the protests had been "temporarily suspended" due to the "government's brutality".
Khan is serving a 10-year sentence after being convicted of leaking state secrets, charges he says are politically motivated. He was removed from his position as prime minister in a no-confidence vote in parliament in April 2022.
A recent UN report concluded that his detention is arbitrary and in contravention of international law.
During elections held this year, candidates running as Independents backed by Khan's party won the highest number of seats, despite him being barred from running himself.
However, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party got enough seats to form a coalition government.
In its statement, the UN working group said that members of the PTI party were arrested and tortured during the election cycle, and there was "widespread fraud on election day, stealing dozens of parliamentary seats".
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