PTI Condemns Deaths of Party Workers Amid Midnight Operation, Controversy Grows
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has strongly condemned the deaths of over a dozen of its party workers following a midnight operation in Islamabad, as fresh reports stir controversy.
A recent article published in The Guardian has added fuel to the ongoing dispute, revealing significant discrepancies in the number of fatalities reported among PTI workers during the protests. The British daily cited 17 deaths in its Wednesday night report, alleging that the coalition government had altered hospital records to downplay the true extent of the violence. However, members of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s cabinet have dismissed these claims as baseless.
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Amid this growing uncertainty, political commentators have offered varying accounts of the deaths, with some suggesting that many protesters died at local hospitals and others naming specific deceased individuals. The lack of clarity over the fatalities has further fueled the dispute, with PTI leaders raising the issue during their march to the capital, demanding the release of party founder Imran Khan.
The protests, which saw more than 1,000 PTI supporters arrested in Islamabad, were sparked by calls for Khan’s release. PTI leaders claimed that many protesters were shot during the demonstrations, although police have denied using live ammunition. Security forces dispersed the protests using tear gas, clearing the red zone. Despite the crackdown, PTI has vowed to continue protesting until Khan is released, with the former prime minister remaining in custody since his arrest in August of last year.
