PTI says it will never forgive or forget attack on its supporters at last year’s Nov 26 protest

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is observing a black day today as the party marks one of the deadliest days in its protest history. Though government officials denied any mass killing, the party and several international media outlets reported that a number of protesters were allegedly shot directly by security forces.

The protest was held to demand the release of former prime minister Imran Khan. Former first lady Bushra Bibi spearheaded a massive rally from KP along with the then KP leader Ali Amin Gandapur, and they were able to reach Islamabad’s D-Chowk after passing several roadblocks.

PTI avoided a major demonstration to mark the anniversary and instead instructed its local leadership to stage protests at the regional level.

On the night of November 26, Bushra Bibi, Ali Amin Gandapur and Omar Ayub left the march participants and went to Mansehra via Haripur. 

After the protest, several cases were registered under terrorism-related and other sections against  Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, Ali Amin Gandapur, other party leaders, and hundreds of workers at various police stations in the federal capital and Rawalpindi.

Cases were registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act in multiple police stations in connection with PTI’s November 24 protest and the ensuing violent demonstrations.

The protesters were accused of damaging public and private property, gathering unlawful crowds, and blocking highways.

In the aftermath of the crackdown, the party initially claimed that hundreds of its workers were killed. PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan officially confirmed the deaths of 13 PTI workers.

However, Information Minister Atta Tarar outrightly denied any deaths, saying, “The dead bodies are only on TikTok, Facebook and WhatsApp.”

According to police sources, four Rangers and police personnel were killed and over 100 injured in the violence.

Foreign media outlets reported that several PTI families were allegedly forced into silence by the authorities and warned against filing FIRs over the killings of their loved ones.