Pakistan’s security forces have been accused of pushing a man off a stack of cargo containers during protests in Islamabad, demanding the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. According to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the man was praying atop the containers when officers, allegedly from the Pakistani Rangers, approached and pushed him from a height of approximately three stories.
Video footage confirmed by BBC Verify shows the man attempting to hold on before falling. The incident occurred at Jinnah and Attaturk avenues on Tuesday. The man’s current condition remains unknown.
The protests, which began Sunday, have seen at least six fatalities, including four security officers and two civilians. PTI claims several of its supporters were killed during violent clashes and demands an investigation. Despite these claims, the government denies using live ammunition.
On Tuesday, thousands of PTI supporters marched through central Islamabad, vowing not to leave until Khan, imprisoned on multiple charges, was freed. However, police dispersed the crowds with tear gas. Authorities reported over 500 arrests and enforced a lockdown with a heavy security presence.
PTI announced a temporary suspension of protests, citing “government brutality” and alleging that the crackdown aimed to maximize casualties. Meanwhile, PTI leaders Ali Amin Gandapur and Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, have returned to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Imran Khan remains a dominant political force despite his imprisonment, with PTI claiming February’s election results were rigged. The government denies these accusations.
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