Pakistan Security Forces Face Allegations of Pushing Man from Containers

Pakistan’s security forces are facing allegations of having pushed a man from a stack of cargo containers during protests held on Tuesday in Islamabad, the capital, where demonstrators were calling for the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Khan’s political party stated that this incident was among several instances of police brutality observed at the demonstrations, leading them to subsequently call off the protests. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party reported that the man had been engaged in prayer atop a container when armed officers approached him and “brutally pushed him off from a height equivalent to three storeys.” The man’s current condition remains unknown. BBC Verify has confirmed that this event occurred on Tuesday at the intersection of Jinnah and Attaturk avenues in Islamabad, a location where protesters had gathered. Video footage depicted officers – equipped with riot shields bearing markings that indicated their affiliation with the Pakistani Rangers, a paramilitary force – approaching an individual who was kneeling on the containers before pushing him over the edge. The video footage shows the man attempting to hold onto the containers before his fall. The authenticity of the footage was established by comparing a video of the fall, which was shared on social media, with images of the same scene uploaded by Getty Images on Tuesday. BBC Verify has contacted the Pakistani Rangers, whose officers are reportedly implicated in the incident, for their comments. At least six individuals—comprising four security officers and two civilians—died in confrontations that took place during the protests, which commenced on Sunday. On Tuesday, thousands of supporters of Khan marched through central Islamabad, demanding the former leader’s release. Protesters had declared their intention to remain in the capital until Khan, who is incarcerated on multiple criminal charges including fraud, was set free. However, as they advanced towards Democracy Square on Tuesday, police repelled them using tear gas. PTI announced in a statement issued on Wednesday that the protests had been “temporarily suspended” due to the “government’s brutality.” The party asserted that Pakistan government forces had “launched a violent assault” on peaceful protesters, “firing live rounds with the intent to kill as many people as possible.” The party has claimed that several of its workers were killed during the crackdown and requested an investigation. The BBC has not yet independently verified these reports of fatalities, though two sources at a nearby hospital confirmed to the BBC that they had received four civilian bodies with gunshot wounds following Tuesday’s protests. Pakistan’s information minister has stated that authorities refrained from firing on protesters. Earlier on Tuesday, numerous Khan supporters had managed to reach the city center but were dispersed by authorities before sunset. Local media, citing a government source, reported that police had apprehended over 500 PTI supporters. Islamabad had been placed under a lockdown, with a substantial security presence deployed in anticipation of clashes with convoys of PTI supporters. These convoys were led by PTI leader Ali Amin Gandapur and Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi, who was released from prison in October and has since assumed a more prominent role in efforts to mobilize support for Khan. Reports indicate that Gandapur and Bushra Bibi have departed Islamabad and returned to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, from where their convoy originated. Protesters were reported to have responded to a “final” appeal from Khan, urging them to “fight till the end” until their demands were met. Khan has been imprisoned for over a year on charges that he contends are politically motivated. Even while incarcerated, the former cricket star has demonstrated himself to be a formidable figure in Pakistan’s political landscape. During the February elections, his party, which had been barred from officially participating and was compelled to field candidates as independents, emerged as the largest single bloc in terms of votes won. Nevertheless, they did not secure a majority, and their adversaries united to establish a new government. The PTI has called for the election results to be invalidated, alleging that the vote was rigged—a claim that the government disputes. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.