PTI-Government Clash Over Alleged Protest Casualties Sparks Controversy
ISLAMABAD: Allegations and denials over reported casualties during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest continue to fuel tension between the opposition party and the government. PTI leaders claim several supporters lost their lives due to law enforcement action, while the government denies these allegations.
Following their retreat from Islamabad’s Blue Area, PTI leaders alleged that security personnel had fired on marchers, resulting in casualties. Party sources initially claimed six deaths, but PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja stated in a video message that as many as 20 supporters may have died.
Conflicting Claims and Lack of Verified Information
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi firmly denied reports of any loss of life, stating that security personnel were not equipped with live firearms during the operation. However, unverified reports circulated on social media and mainstream channels, further complicating the narrative.
Hospitals in Islamabad have not issued official reports of casualties, breaking from the usual protocol observed during major incidents. Typically, healthcare authorities provide updates and maintain information centers to share verified data on casualties and injuries. This time, however, hospital administrations have remained silent, leaving room for speculation and misinformation.
A purported list of casualties attributed to Islamabad’s Polyclinic Hospital made rounds on social media but was later debunked by the hospital, which clarified that no such list had been issued.
PTI Leadership’s Response
PTI leader Salman Akram Raja criticized the lack of transparency, alleging that hospitals were instructed to destroy records of injured or deceased protesters. He named six alleged victims—Muhammad Ilyas, Anees Satti, Malik Safdar Ali, Mubeen Aurangzeb, Abdul Rasheed, and Ahmad Wali—and pledged to release further details.
In a video statement, he accused authorities of suppressing information and destroying evidence, a claim the government has not addressed directly.
Burials of Alleged Victims
At least four individuals reportedly linked to the PTI protest were laid to rest in various parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). Mubeen Aurangzeb was buried in Abbottabad, while Qadir, a daily wage laborer and father of seven, was interred in UC Sherwan. Both were reportedly victims of gunfire, though no postmortems were conducted.
In Shangla, Tariq Khan was buried after allegedly being struck by a vehicle, while Sardar Ali was laid to rest in Mardan. Large numbers of locals attended the funerals, and the coffins were draped in PTI flags.
However, no senior PTI leaders were present at the funerals, a fact noted by locals in Abbottabad.
Government’s Stance
Government officials continue to refute PTI’s claims, emphasizing the absence of casualties and questioning the lack of concrete evidence. Information Minister Ata Tarar repeatedly asked, “Where is the proof?” when confronted with allegations.
What’s Next?
As the controversy persists, the lack of official information leaves room for speculation and misinformation. Both parties are expected to continue their respective narratives, with further developments likely as PTI plans its next course of action.
This evolving situation underscores the need for transparency and verified reporting to prevent the spread of unverified claims, both online and in mainstream media.
