An Islamabad district and sessions court on Wednesday dismissed a private criminal complaint filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan against Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and other senior government officials over the alleged deaths and injuries during the party’s November 26, 2024 protest.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka dismissed the complaint during proceedings, providing significant judicial relief to the prime minister, interior minister, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.
Barrister Gohar and Advocate Khurram Latif Khosa appeared before the court during the latest hearing.
Complaint filed over alleged protest crackdown
PTI had filed the private complaint in December 2024 following the security operation that dispersed the party’s protesters from Islamabad’s D-Chowk and surrounding areas on the night of November 26.
The complaint named Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, the Islamabad police chief and several other officials.
Barrister Gohar alleged that the government officials had formulated a coordinated plan to use force against what PTI described as peaceful protesters. The complaint accused the respondents of conspiring to violate the constitutional and fundamental rights of the demonstrators.
PTI further alleged that the prime minister and the ministers named in the complaint had directed law-enforcement agencies to use lethal force against the demonstrators. These allegations were negated by the government and had not been established by a court.
According to the original complaint, PTI alleged that 12 of its workers had been killed, 38 wounded and 139 reported missing following the operation.
November 26 protest
PTI supporters marched towards Islamabad in November 2024 following a protest call issued by imprisoned party founder Imran Khan. The party demanded Khan’s release, the reversal of what it described as the stolen electoral mandate and other political and constitutional measures.
Thousands of supporters reached central Islamabad after breaking through several security barriers. The government had imposed restrictions on public gatherings and deployed police and paramilitary personnel across the capital.
Violent clashes were reported between protesters and security forces. Four Rangers personnel and other individuals were reported killed during the unrest, while dozens of security personnel and demonstrators suffered injuries. Security forces later launched an operation that dispersed the protesters from central Islamabad.
