By Afshain Afzal

The on ground visits to relevant areas and institutions, interviews, tracking the strategies and field probes from analytical angle to find real faces behind the ugly game of fire and blood kept Friday and Saturday busy days. There is no change in earlier confirmation that on 26/ 27 November 2024, the total numbers of causalities recorded at various hospitals in Islamabad as result of firing was three killed and 40 injured. The political party behind the protests failed to prove their claim that over one thousand protesters were killed by security forces crackdown operation in Pakistani capital Islamabad. Three days after the incident, names of not more than 12 persons allegedly killed but without proper identities; CNIC numbers, parentage of individuals or other details, which also included according to party’s own statements, some isolated death cases and those injured persons who died later. Some witnesses confirmed that electricity was discontinued much ahead of the operation but live footage during the time of operation failed to qualify as all the streetlights were glowing in all the videos released. Two witnesses said some of the protesters were beaten or arrested when they took refuse in nearby buildings. A witness claimed on the condition of anonymity that one of the protester announced that he would open fire on fleeing protester if they abandon mission or try to run away. He claimed he only heard some firing but declined to elaborate.

The issue that created confusion was that operation by the authorities was neither intense nor any coercive measure other than teargas shells was adopted which could invite such cowardly reaction from protesters, where all of them were running away for several kilometers on straight road and leaving of over two dozen and a half unattended vehicles with doors wide open to save lives. It was confirmed that things were dramatized to prepare videos otherwise most of the scenes of arson and running from D Chowk towards overhead bridge could not be confirmed by any witnesses. Even the person covered by international media who was pushed by Rangers personnel from the top third container, proved fake and he was not injured at all as a person standing between containers on ladder supported him and he deflected to make him safely land without any hurt. The person, with both hands broken shown in videos is a fake. Several videos clips in support and statement of a witness are available to prove this fraud. More so, any forensic expert can conclude that the angles and size of bullet holes on vehicles or windscreens and other damages clearly reflected to be self-inflected and lack any authenticity.

Another cock and bull story was an interview given by a party protester to a journalist at PIMS hospital, namely Safeer Ali, son of Ilays Hussain, resident of G-13, Islamabad. He claimed that he is an eye witness along with thousands of other protesters that Rangers and Police vehicles including four Vigo and four trucks, after losing strength against protesters started speedily withdrawing and running over many persons killing four Rangers personnel and one civilian and injuring two other Rangers personnel under their vehicles. His claimed the civilian killed was his brother namely Muhammad Ilyas who retired from Frontier Constabulary six month back. A drama was staged to develop hatred against security forces and try to create impression that they confined to barbaric tactics of running over protesters. It is strange that his deceased brother’s name is Ilyas and his father name is also Ilyas. Initial probe reflected this was a conspiracy by some Kashmiris linked with India to defame Pakistan Army and the security forces.

Without crossing the red lines in reporting the Truth and saving report for an exclusive article, several hours ahead of official announcement by state controlled Pakistan Television News about deployment of Army under Article 245, every protester got communication of security forces’ intensions and plans to open live fire to kill all the protesters. Witness openly took name of officers belonging to military and intelligence leaking these plans to public. Peaceful protesters were not stopped and allowed to reach D Chowk at the mouth of Constitution Avenue, Islamabad, probably to justify later operations. Witnesses confirmed that that had prior knowledge through horse’s mouth rather some retired and serving officers as well as leaders spread rumours themselves about massive operation for which Commandos were engaged and over 35 officers were moved from Sialkot to Islamabad. This claim was however, refuted by some senior officers. Later, all these rumours proved wrong.  

Probe also concluded that particular days for major operations in Pakistan are carefully chosen and are linked with events in neighboring India, Like 26^th November live firing on unarmed protesters coincided with 26^th November 2008, Mumbai attack when Indian city of Mumbai was struck by a devastating terror attacks planned by Indian intelligence agencies, leaving 166 innocent people dead and over 300 injured. The attack provided opportunity to the Indian authorities to openly violate Human Rights against her nationals and carryout genocide of sub-nations including people of disputed Jammu and Kashmir as well as Muslim population Eastern and Western Indian states.

Interestingly, 16^th December terrorist attack on Army Public School at Peshawar that killed 130 students also took place on same day when Indian forces captured the East Pakistan and deprived Pakistan of its entire Eastern wing with more than 56 percent of its population. Pakistan used to be observed this day as determination to take revenge from enemies who divided Pakistan. Now the day is celebrated to take revenge from Pakistanis as internal enemies. Already, every year on 16^th December mourning is observed at state level undoctoring hatred against Muslim religious extremists and resolves to eliminate internal enemies of Pakistan. This time Khyber Pakhtun Khwa provincial government has plans to observe the day against the Federation of Pakistan.

The 26^th November much dramatized attack on unarmed protesters at Islamabad, whosoever has carried out; security forces or the protesters, was a grand plan to allow lifetime license for Pakistan’s Armed Forces and the security forces to hunt for anyone without condemnation throughout the country, especially Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtun Khwa. The day witnessed drone attacks and operations in former FATA and Balochistan where locals were protesting against unprovoked attack on civilians. Earlier, in the name of “Reinvigorating Counter Terrorism Campaign” to achieve “Azm-e-Istekham,” the Federal Apex Committee of National Action Plan on 19 November 2024, approved comprehensive military operation in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtun Khwa. In fact, the planners of Islamabad killings drama including some serving and retired officials failed to calculate chances of their detection and that someone would be able to raise doubt of fake claims of mass killings and massacre by the security forces of Pakistan. As per the plan there was to be a strong reaction against Pakistan Army and security from the loyal Pakistanis of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtun Khwa giving room to mass insurgency further leading to Governor rule, Martial Law and extensive military operations. Many foreign countries have started funding and colorations for the military operations to eliminate the sons of the soil. Now this will not happen as Pashtuns and Baloch brothers and sisters are quite clear that some of their leaders and friends have set a trap to pith them against authorities, especially Armed Forces to give chance for a military operation. We need to understand that majority of Pakistan’s security forces and politicians are loyal but they should be careful honouring human righty and complete freedom instead of issuing embarrassing warning and threats. There is also no doubt that Baloch and Pashtun are as loyal as others rather exemplary Muslims.