Islamabad Police have confirmed filing a case against former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, linking him to the deaths of three paramilitary soldiers in a car crash during his party’s recent protests in the federal capital.
Thousands of protesters had surged into Islamabad last week, answering Khan's call to protest his sidelining from February elections he claims were rigged to prevent his comeback.
The government deployed hundreds of security forces to the capital, where they faced off with demonstrators attempting to occupy a public square, D-Chowk, near the parliament and the prime minister's residence.
In a late-night operation on November 26, police and paramilitary forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters wielding sticks and slingshots, as roadblocks were set ablaze.
The car crash occurred on November 26 at 3 a.m., when a speeding SUV struck a group of Pakistan Rangers personnel stationed on the Srinagar Highway in Islamabad.
The First Information Report (FIR), filed under charges of murder, attempted murder, and terrorism, remains sealed, leaving key details undisclosed.
Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif carry the coffin of a paramilitary soldier who was killed during clashes between security forces and protesters who were demanding the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad, at Chaklala Garrison in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, November 26, 2024.Reuters
The FIR, numbered 974 and filed on November 26, remains confidential, with authorities withholding its contents from public access. Police officials cited sections 302 and 324 of Pakistan's penal code, among others, in the case.
According to a report submitted to the Islamabad High Court, this is one of 14 new FIRs filed against Khan after the D-Chowk protest. The cases include charges such as rioting, vandalism, firing, and assaults on law enforcement personnel, with Khan labelled as the “mastermind.”
Initial investigations classified the crash as a tragic accident unrelated to PTI. At the time of the incident, PTI’s convoy was nearly four miles away. Intelligence agencies and police concluded that the crash was not coordinated with any protest activity.
The driver, Abbasi, a resident of Islamabad’s upscale F-10 sector, is the grandson of a former senior interior ministry official. Family members revealed that Abbasi had been battling addiction and was undergoing treatment.
“This was an unfortunate accident,” a relative told Nukta. “We don’t know how Hashim got access to the vehicle as he wasn’t allowed to drive.”
Despite initial findings, speculation arose about PTI’s involvement, leading to the sealed FIR against Imran Khan. Critics have called for transparency regarding the FIR, particularly as it accuses a political leader of terrorism and murder in what appears to be an unrelated traffic accident.
Nukta sought comments from Islamabad’s police chief, who declined to confirm any connection between PTI leadership and the incident. After 10 days, no public updates on the FIR or further investigation have been provided.
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