Information Minister Attaullah Tarar addressed the controversy surrounding a man allegedly pushed off a container during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest in Islamabad, confirming that he is injured but “completely fine.” The minister rejected circulating claims that the man had died after the incident, clarifying the situation in a televised statement on Saturday.
The incident occurred on November 26, during a clash between PTI supporters and security forces as the party attempted to breach barricades at D-Chowk, Islamabad, for their ‘final call’ protest. The confrontation led to intense teargas shelling and a late-night crackdown, which forced PTI leaders and supporters to retreat, effectively ending their protest movement.
A video of the incident went viral, showing uniformed personnel pushing a man off a stack of shipping containers used to block the protestors. Social media quickly spread rumors that the man had died, with some claiming he had been offering prayers when he was pushed. Tarar, however, debunked these claims, stating the man, a resident of Mandi Bahauddin, had only suffered a minor injury to his arm and was receiving medical care. He also clarified that the man was recording a TikTok video at the time and not engaged in prayer.
The Information Minister did not provide further details about the man’s current condition or identity, but PTI’s MNA Haji Imtiaz Ahmed Choudhary later identified the individual as Tahir Abbas Tarar, sharing a photo of him with both arms bandaged.
Minister Tarar also addressed the violence during the protest, vowing that individuals responsible for rioting would be punished. He emphasized that the government had launched a dedicated anti-riot force to prevent future disturbances and strengthen institutions. He further criticized PTI for spreading false narratives, claiming that no security forces had fired on protesters and that no bodies had been received by hospitals, contrary to PTI’s claims.
The protest resulted in the loss of at least six lives, including a policeman and three Rangers personnel, as clashes between security forces and PTI supporters continued. Despite claims of widespread fatalities, hospitals denied receiving gunshot wounds or bodies, leading to disputes between the government and PTI over the exact number of casualties.
