Pakistan government accuses Khan’s close aide of orchestrating 'violent' march to Islamabad

The Pakistan government on Sunday accused a close aide of former Prime Minister Imran Khan of orchestrating last week's violent protests in Islamabad, which left multiple people dead and paralyzed the capital for several days.

The government claims that PTI leader Murad Saeed led a vanguard of 1,500 armed miscreants, including illegal Afghan nationals, during the PTI-led march.

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 Islamabad, 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.

Supporters of the former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), attend a protest demanding the release of Khan, in Islamabad, Pakistan, November 26, 2024. Reuters

According to the Ministry of Interior, the group employed “militant tactics” and used weapons such as firearms, stun grenades, and nail-studded batons to clash with law enforcement agencies (LEAs).

It said that the violence resulted in the killing of three Rangers personnel, critical injuries to five others, and grievous harm to 232 LEAs.

“These miscreants, under Murad Saeed’s command, attacked security forces and breached blocks using government resources from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” the ministry said in a statement.

It also highlighted that PTI had disregarded the Islamabad High Court's orders by advancing into the Red Zone instead of protesting at the designated Sangjani area.

“LEAs showed remarkable restraint despite the aggressive tactics used by the protesters,” it added.

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The government emphasized the sacrifices of security personnel, who endured severe injuries to protect key installations and foreign delegations in the capital.

The ministry further alleged that the group included trained foreign nationals, adding that 39 weapons, including 18 automatic firearms, were recovered from arrested offenders. “This violent protest was not a spontaneous act but a well-orchestrated operation involving militant tactics,” the statement read.

Amid the chaos, it added, PTI’s social media accounts reportedly disseminated false information, including fabricated death tolls and AI-generated visuals, to malign LEAs.

“This deliberate campaign of disinformation seeks to divide the nation and undermine the sacrifices of our security forces,” the ministry said, adding that those involved in spreading fake news would be held accountable.

'Protests caused PKR 192 billion daily losses to economy'

The statement said that the protests caused significant economic and material losses, with damages running into hundreds of millions and daily indirect economic losses of PKR 192 billion. The government has vowed to hold those responsible accountable under the law.

“This violent streak of politics is rejected by the people of Pakistan, who stand united for peace and stability,” the statement concluded, calling for decisive action against those inciting violence.

PTI refutes allegations

Meanwhile, PTI has strongly refuted the Ministry of Interior's allegations, labeling November 26 as "one of the darkest chapters in the nation’s history."

PTI’s spokesperson accused the government of shedding "the innocent blood of unarmed citizens" and hiding behind the Constitution’s Article 245 to justify its actions.

"The mandate thieves and their state machinery cannot wash the bloodstains off their hands by misusing constitutional provisions," the PTI spokesperson stated, emphasizing that Article 245 does not permit the state to target peaceful citizens.

PTI alleged that the federal government had weaponized the Constitution to suit its convenience, disregarding its clauses that guarantee fundamental rights to the people. "While they trumpet the articles that shield their power, they trample upon those ensuring citizens' rights," the party said.

The spokesperson also criticized the federal interior minister, claiming he lacked public mandate and had ascended to power through "undemocratic means." PTI reminded the government that sovereignty ultimately belongs to the people, as enshrined in the Constitution.

Reiterating its commitment to peaceful political activism, PTI dismissed accusations of violence and militancy during its protest. "Millions of our participants remained peaceful throughout, and the allegations of rioting are baseless," the spokesperson asserted.

Addressing reports of deaths and injuries during the protests, PTI accused state forces of using live ammunition against unarmed citizens.