COMMENTARY: Shooting at protesters and attempted cover-up: Pakistan’s military carried out a fierce crackdown on demonstrations in support of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Pakistan’s military planned and carried out a crackdown on demonstrations in support of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan in late november. This shows a comprehensive disclosure from Drop Site News, conducted by the renowned journalists Murtaza Hussain and Ryan Grim.
The brutal operation included the use of live gunfire, communication barriers and extensive attempts to hide the tracks afterwards. NRK also referred to this as a “massacre”.
Imran Khan, who was removed from power in a vote of no confidence in april 2022, has increased his popularity among the people of Pakistan as the alleged accusations against him have emerged as increasingly implausible and false. Following his arrest on corruption charges, the country has experienced widespread political protests and violent clashes between protesters and the authorities.
Khan and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), accuse the current government of political repression and manipulation of the legal system, and of keeping him in prison, with the support of militaries, and with the support of the US and British governments. This has led to a dramatic increase in political unrest and demonstrations across the country.
The demonstration took place on 26. november, after Imran Khan urged his supporters to gather in Islamabad. Thousands of supporters from across the country braved blockages, internet interruptions and tear gas to reach the center of the capital. They met paramilitary forces who initially gave the impression that they did not want confrontation, as long as the protesters remained calm. However, this was revealed to be false, as a brutal action started in the evening.
The operation was carried out in several stages:
Creating chaos: before the attack, street lights were turned off, and communication networks were blocked to confuse the protesters, making it difficult for people to organize and making them more vulnerable to the military’s advance.
Attack: tear gas was used from several directions, and fire was opened with sharp shots aimed at the crowd. Snipers with infrared sights were strategically placed to take targeted shots at individuals. The attack was both intense and coordinated, and several were shot while trying to escape from the scene.
Real-time surveillance: during the operation, a MALE UAV (Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance) and smaller drones with thermal imaging contributed to real-time surveillance, sending live footage of the ongoing violence to the operation’s command center.
Evidence removal: after the shooting, military units moved in quickly to remove traces. This included removing dead bodies and casings, and in some cases threatening witnesses to remain silent about what they had seen. Attempts were also made to suppress evidence by seizing medical records and pressuring health officials not to report the extent of their injuries.
Reports from eyewitnesses and medical personnel tell of deaths and many serious injuries. At the same time, the authorities have tried to suppress information about the events by preventing the press from covering the case.
Imran Khan has been in prison since last year after being convicted of corruption. This picture is from 2023. Archive Photo: Wikimedia / Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) / CC BY 3.0
Journalist Matiullah Jan, who was investigating the events, was abducted and later charged with terrorism and drug possession – charges that Amnesty International has condemned as false and politically motivated. This abduction has attracted widespread international attention, and several human rights organizations have expressed deep concern over how critical journalists are treated under the current government.
At least 14 people have been killed and 200 injured, but the exact number is unclear as many remain missing. Aleema Khan, the sister of Imran Khan, has stated that the situation is untenable: “why would they shoot at their own people? We are not in a hostile country.”The incident has caused great public outrage, and several have expressed their frustration at the government’s violent response to peaceful demonstrations.
Amnesty International has called for a transparent investigation into the incident, which it describes as a serious violation of human rights. The organisation has also criticised the Pakistani government for suppressing freedom of expression and freedom of the press, and there is widespread concern that the authorities are using force to silence opposition and critics.
The international response has been divided. Human rights organizations and activists have condemned the actions of the Pakistani military, but some countries have been more reluctant to criticize. One such example is the United Kingdom, where the British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, expressed full support for the Pakistani government and military in a meeting with foreign diplomats. This was reported by Pakistani journalist Ali Mustafa, although in retrospect denies saying such a thing and has subsequently made criticisms of the government’s handling.
The statement by High Commissioner Marriot has led to increased anger in Pakistan regarding the UK’s role in the political situation, as the UK Government has maintained a relatively positive attitude towards the Pakistani authorities, despite the brutal events. Critics argue that this shows that the regime in Pakistan acted in line with support if not on the direct orders of foreign powers when Khan was deposed just over two years ago.
The events in november have highlighted the political and military situation in Pakistan, where increasing repression of demonstrations and criticism of the government have led to widespread human rights violations. International reactions, such as the British declaration of support, and calls for justice from human rights organizations, underscore the importance of ensuring an independent investigation into the brutal acts that have taken place.
At a time of rising political tension, Pakistan remains a country in a critical phase, where both international support and pressure can play a crucial role in what happens next. The government faces enormous pressure from both domestic and foreign actors demanding accountability, fairness and protection of fundamental rights for the population.
Militancy must withdraw from politics, but it does not happen when they have the full support of some Western countries in governing directly or indirectly.