An Islamabad court has dismissed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) petition regarding the alleged deaths and injuries during the November 26 protest in the federal capital. Consequently, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Information Minister Atta Tarar, Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, and other respondents have been cleared in the case.
The verdict was announced by Additional District and Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka after reserving the decision earlier. The petition had been filed by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, seeking legal action against senior government officials over the alleged deaths and injuries during the protest.
Court Cites Lack of Evidence
In its detailed 17-page judgment, the court concluded that the petitioner failed to provide sufficient preliminary evidence to proceed against the accused officials.
According to the ruling, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan did not record his statement as an eyewitness despite being granted multiple opportunities. The court observed that, under the law, a complainant must submit a list of witnesses along with the complaint.
Although the petition named Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, PTI leader Omar Ayub, Bushra Bibi, and several assembly members as witnesses, none of them appeared before the court. Furthermore, no witness statements were placed on record.
No Medical or Forensic Evidence Submitted
The complaint alleged that 12 individuals lost their lives, while more than 38 PTI workers suffered gunshot injuries during the November 26 protest.
However, the court noted that no post-mortem reports, death certificates, or medical records of the injured were submitted despite the passage of considerable time.
The judgment stated that verbal allegations alone could not justify legal action against the prime minister and other cabinet members without supporting evidence.
As a result, the court ruled that no prima facie case had been established.
Court Highlights Available Legal Options
The judgment further observed that if state institutions or hospitals were allegedly not cooperating, the petitioner still had legal remedies available.
According to the court, the complainant could have approached a magistrate to seek permission for the exhumation of bodies. Such proceedings would have helped determine the actual causes of death through proper forensic examination.
However, the court found that no such legal steps were taken during the intervening period.
Digital Evidence Was Not Produced
The court also examined the documentary material submitted with the complaint.
According to the judgment, the petitioner attached several volumes of newspaper clippings. However, no digital footage, video recordings, or USB devices containing relevant evidence were submitted before the court.
Therefore, the court concluded that the available material did not meet the legal threshold required to initiate criminal proceedings against the respondents.
Background of the November 26 Protest
The petition relates to PTI’s protest held in Islamabad on November 26, when thousands of supporters gathered in response to former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s call for nationwide demonstrations.
The protesters demanded Imran Khan’s immediate release, the restoration of PTI’s electoral mandate, the release of political prisoners, and the reversal of the 26th Constitutional Amendment.
Supporters travelled from different parts of Pakistan, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where PTI forms the provincial government.
Security Measures During the Protest
Ahead of the protest, authorities imposed extensive security measures across Islamabad.
Roads leading to the capital were blocked with shipping containers, while law enforcement agencies deployed additional personnel at key locations.
Security forces used tear gas and other crowd-control measures to stop protesters from entering restricted areas. Authorities also detained several participants after the Islamabad High Court declared the protest unlawful.
At the time, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the government would prevent protesters from entering the capital. He also confirmed that mobile internet services had been suspended in parts of the country to manage the security situation.
Court Closes the Case
After reviewing the available material, witness records, and supporting documents, the Islamabad court concluded that the legal requirements for proceeding against the respondents had not been fulfilled.
Accordingly, the petition was dismissed, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Mohsin Naqvi, Maryam Nawaz, Atta Tarar, Marriyum Aurangzeb, and the other respondents were cleared in the case.
