Imran Khan vows justice for “Islamabad Massacre”

RAWALPINDI: Incarcerated former chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has strongly condemned what he called the “Islamabad Massacre,” describing it as one of the darkest chapters in Pakistan’s history.

According to a statement posted to Imran Khan’s official Facebook account, he met his sister Aleema Khanum, journalists, and lawyers at Adiala Jail today (Tuesday).

“My family informed me today about the full details of the ‘Islamabad massacre’ — how live bullets were fired on our peaceful protesters, leaving dozens of unarmed citizens dead and hundreds injured. So far, details of 12 martyrs have emerged,” he said.

The former prime minister compared the current situation to historical tragedies, claiming, “This is the darkest chapter of brutality in our history. It feels like Yahya Khan Part II is imposed on this nation.”

He called for a neutral judicial commission under the Supreme Court to investigate the killing of peaceful protesters and to bring those responsible to justice. “We are gathering all the details and consulting further. This cannot be ignored. Anyone who thinks fear tactics can silence the people is delusional,” he added.

Imran Khan vowed to raise the issue on all international forums, saying, “We will amplify this injustice globally. No democratic nation in the world fires directly on unarmed protestors.”

He also directed the PTI leadership to file FIRs against key figures, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

He also called for immediate public disclosure of data on the victims from hospitals in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, as well as preservation of all hospital and Safe City CCTV footage. “We must ensure no evidence is destroyed, unlike what happened on May 9,” he warned.

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Khan emphasized the responsibility of the PTI leadership and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to care for the victims and their families. “I have instructed my party and the KP chief minister to prioritize the welfare of the victims’ families and the injured, work relentlessly for the recovery of the missing, and support the lawyers fighting the cases of those detained.”

Referring to the crackdown, he drew a grim comparison with Pakistan’s past. “Operations conducted at gunpoint may seem successful at the time, like the Lal Masjid operation or Yahya Khan’s military action, but their consequences are far-reaching. A month after Yahya’s operation, the country split in two. The bloodshed in Islamabad will have long-lasting repercussions.”

Regarding the internal difference in the party over the Islamabad protest, Imran Khan defended his wife, Bushra Bibi, saying she had acted on his instructions during the protests. He also urged PTI workers and officials to prepare for the next phase of their struggle against what he called the “mafia” in power.

“This is not just politics. This is jihad,” he declared, framing the movement as a fight for “true freedom” and the future of Pakistan.