Islamabad, Pakistan — Serious concerns have been raised by the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) regarding the forceful suppression of opposition demonstrations in Islamabad. The institute has called on Pakistan to adhere more closely to global human rights norms, notably in managing protests with minimal force.
Turmoil escalated in the capital when mass protests, primarily demanding the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, descended into chaos. Following Khan’s detention, his supporters, led by his political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), organized widespread protests on November 24. The gatherings, climaxing between November 26 and November 27, saw thousands converge upon Islamabad, persisting day and night to pressure the government for Khan’s release.
The response from law enforcement to these demonstrations was marked by significant violence. Reports from IBAHRI indicate that a dozen protesters met fatal ends at D-Chowk, a major square in the city center. Further accounts detailed aggressive means employed by authorities including tear gas, rubber bullets, and slingshots. Conversely, Pakistani officials have reported that the protests resulted in the deaths of six individuals, encompassing four paramilitary members, one police officer, and a civilian.
Given the existing restrictions on information flow surrounding these events, IBAHRI’s co-chair, Mark Stephens, underscored the institute’s dedication to observing the situation keenly. Stephens called for international voices to demand a thorough and impartial investigation into the incidents to ascertain the facts and hold relevant actors accountable for potential human rights infringements.
The right to peaceful assembly is firmly entrenched in both Pakistani national law and international human rights statutes. According to Article 16 of the Constitution of Pakistan, every citizen is granted the right to assemble peacefully and unarmed within the confines of the law. Similarly, international agreements like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights protect the liberties of assembly and association, stipulating only narrow restrictions permissible in a democratic society.
Despite various efforts including roadblocks and local power outages aimed at curtailing the mass gatherings, participants were able to dismantle barriers and rally in central Islamabad. The resultant clashes not only led to multiple injuries amongst demonstrators and police forces but also instigated internet outages and major traffic disruptions nationwide.
The intensity of the clashes eventually prompted PTI to suspend further protests, particularly after the arrests and reported disappearances of numerous party affiliates led to escalating tensions. Responding to the situation, Amnesty International has pressed for an immediate, transparent investigation into the deaths and the spate of detentions.
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