The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has released its fact-finding report on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest in Islamabad on November 26, 2024.
The report rejected the federal government’s claim that no casualties were reported during the protest. According to the report, both protesters and security personnel died during the protest.
The report said that a high-level fact-finding mission examined various aspects of the incident. The team recorded statements from state representatives, PTI leadership, journalists present at the scene, and the families of seven people who were allegedly killed during the protest.
According to the HRCP, the mission is concerned about allegations that the hospital administration and the police kept the bodies of the victims in their custody until the families gave assurances that they would not take any legal action.
However, the hospital administration refused to speak to the fact-finding team. According to statements by journalists and the families of the victims, the hospitals are hiding information.
The report states that the right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed under the Constitution, but this right must be exercised within the framework of the law. According to the report, some protesters were in possession of batons, tear gas shells and firearms, while the administration used unnecessary force to quell the protests.
The mission tried to contact the Interior Minister for information on the use of firearms on the protesters, but he was not available to meet the team.
HRCP has called on the government to immediately conduct an independent and impartial investigation into the incident. The report also says that the families of the victims, the PTI, and other political parties should be included in the investigation process to bring the facts to light.
