KP govt declares three days of mourning over ‘fatalities’ during PTI protest 

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has announced a three-day mourning across the province starting from Friday against the alleged firing by police and Rangers at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protesters at D-Chowk in Islamabad, which what they said resulted in the death of several PTI workers. 

Provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam made the announcement during an emergency session of the provincial assembly, presided over by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati on Thursday night. 

Speaking at the session, Speaker Swati condemned the violence, asserting that the Constitution guarantees citizens the right to protest.

He lamented that peaceful demonstrators advocating for democracy and constitutional supremacy were often suppressed.

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Referring to PTI’s November 24 protest, he said, “PTI workers were marching peacefully, yet they were met with bullets. Several of our workers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were martyred, and many were injured. There is ample video evidence of these incidents, which even international media covered, while local media has remained largely silent.” 

The speaker also demanded an inquiry into the events and alleged an assassination attempt on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. “Thanks to the efforts of workers, the chief minister managed to escape unharmed,” he said. 

Aftab Alam criticised the crackdown on PTI protesters on November 24 and 25, claiming that direct firing had led to the deaths of several party workers and injuries to many others.

He said that the protest was peaceful and aimed at highlighting injustices faced by PTI’s leadership, particularly its founder.

He further alleged that not only workers but even the Chief Minister had been targeted with gunfire. 

To honour the victims, the provincial government has declared three days of mourning across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The provincial assembly also offered prayers for those killed in Kurram district and Islamabad. 

The speaker adjourned the session until 7pm on Friday, when a detailed discussion on the incidents was expected to take place.