The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has rejected the government’s claim that no live ammunition was used during the crackdown on its protest in Islamabad, labeling the incident a “bloody massacre.” The party vowed to continue its fight for constitutional supremacy, rule of law, and democracy in Pakistan.
In a video statement posted on social media, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja accused law enforcement of killing at least 20 unarmed PTI supporters during the protest. “So far, eight of our martyrs have been identified, including Muhammad Ilyas, Anees Satti, Malik Safdar Ali, Malik Mobeen Aurangzeb, Abdul Rasheed, and Ahmad Wali,” Raja said. He claimed that security forces indiscriminately used live ammunition against the workers.
Emphasizing the importance of peaceful protest as a fundamental right, Raja stated, “Nations progress when the rights to assembly, protest, and free speech are respected. Unfortunately, in Pakistan, even the right to vote is ignored.” He also pointed out that PTI’s electoral victory on February 8 had been nullified, leading to the establishment of an “illegitimate regime.” Raja accused the government of using state power to silence opposition, calling the government’s denial of casualties a “blatant lie” and accusing them of using fascist tactics.
PTI has vowed to seek justice for its workers through legal means. Raja announced plans to file cases against Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and other officials responsible for the violence.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan also condemned the violence, calling it a dark chapter in the fight for civil and political rights. “Our workers have laid down their lives, facing brutality, shelling, and live bullets,” he said. “This massacre will be remembered as a key moment in the fight for democracy, and we demand justice.”
The PTI’s official social media account condemned the crackdown, calling it a massacre orchestrated by a “fascist regime.”
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister’s Adviser for Information and Public Relations, Dr. Saif, described the government’s actions as another chapter of cruelty and oppression. He compared the D-Chowk incident to the Model Town tragedy, calling it a “badge of disgrace” for the government. Dr. Saif added that such atrocities were committed by those in power who fear the people, and the firing on unarmed workers proved their fear.
