November 2024 Protest in Pakistan
From 24–27 November 2024, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) organized the final call protest, also referred to as do-or-die protest, led by Bushra Bibi and Ali Amin Gandapur. During the protest, supporters of Imran Khan clashed with police in Islamabad as their march to the capital was obstructed. At least six people, including four security personnel, were killed when a vehicle rammed into them on 26 November. Meanwhile, several were injured during crowd containment via tear gas and rubber bullets, while some journalists were attacked by Khan's supporters. Late at night, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi warned that security forces would retaliate with live ammunition if protesters fired at them.
In response to the clashes, on 27 November, a violent crackdown by Pakistani security forces, led by Naqvi, resulted in casualties. The government denied using live rounds, asserting that the situation was under control after clearing the protest area. According to anonymous sources in local hospitals speaking to "The Guardian", the families of the deceased speaking to Al Jazeera, government officials had confiscated records of dead and injured. The PTI described the incident as a "massacre," claiming that hundreds of its members were killed as police fired live ammunition during the final phase of the protest. Later, party sources stated that up to 20 of their workers had been killed, while the search for other victims was ongoing. Government ministers denied any fatalities among PTI protesters during the November 26 security forces raid in Islamabad, with interior minister Naqvi refuting these claims as "propaganda" and challenging the party to provide names of the deceased. Meanwhile, Islamabad's police chief reported five security personnel killed during the clashes and described significant damage caused by protesters. Al Jazeera confirmed the names of the deceased and contacted the family members of several of the killed PTI protesters.
Public hospitals in the federal capital asserted that no bodies were brought in following the operation. However, documentary evidence contradicts these claims. On November 30, Geo TV Fact Check contacted over a dozen doctors, nurses, and hospital administrators, many of whom either denied the deaths or declined to comment, citing pressure from government authorities. According to the fact check, three individuals with gunshot wounds were brought to hospitals. One was admitted to PIMS Hospital on November 26 at 8:17 PM and pronounced dead at 8:30 PM. Another was pronounced dead at the Federal Government Poly Clinic Hospital at 5:12 PM the same day, while the third was pronounced dead at 5:00 PM. The security forces' crackdown began in the early hours of 27 November 2024.
PTI shared a post on its official X account stating "In view of the government's brutality and the government's plan to turn the capital into a slaughterhouse for unarmed citizens, (we) announce the suspension of the peaceful protest for the time being."
Preceding events.
Protest announcement.
On 13 November 2024, Imran Khan issued a "final call" for a protest on November 24 in Islamabad from his imprisonment in Adiala Jail. The announcement was in response to the Twenty-sixth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan, which he criticised for infringing on rights. Khan and his party opposed the amendment, describing it as an attack on the judiciary. Furthermore, the announcement included demands to end the Sharif government's alleged "unjust arrests" and "stolen mandate," referencing PTI's claim that the military establishment rigged the 2024 Pakistani general election in favour of PML-N. Khan's sister, Aleema Khanum, urged Pakistanis to follow the protest call, relaying his message for a nationwide protest.
Separately, Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur called on PTI supporters to prepare for the "final call." Gandapur stated that PTI members were ready to make the "ultimate sacrifice," adding that they would march "with our shrouds tied, bringing greater force and official machinery." Gandapur also mentioned informing his family of his readiness to embrace the ultimate sacrifice, stating, "If I don't return, consider it my final departure and hold my funeral prayers." Gandapur concluded his statement with a historical reference, saying, "We've already made two strikes, but remember, there were 17 battles at Panipat."
The protest was also referred to as the "do-or-die protest."
Lockdowns.
Ahead of the protests, Pakistani Law Enforcement and the Government locked down the capital: Islamabad, fortifying the capital with numerous shipping containers and the deployment of tens of thousands of police and paramilitary forces in riot gear. Several highways and roads leading to the city were also blocked and barricaded by the government in an attempt to prevent protesters from entering the capital. 
On 22 November 2024, Section 144 was imposed by the Punjab government, barring sit-ins, rallies, or protests for 3 days (from November 23 to November 25) officially due to security concerns ahead of the protests. The government cited the risk of public gatherings being targeted by terrorists or exploited for anti-state activities as the rationale behind the decision. The provincial government's spokesperson, Azma Bukhari, announced that the "protestors will be dealt with the same way as terrorists." Prior to the protest, 4,000 PTI supporters and members were arrested and detained by the federal government. The Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, justified the arrests and security measures, stating they were necessary to protect residents and property. He attributed the inconveniences caused to people and businesses to PTI's actions. Naqvi further warned that anyone breaching the Red Zone would also be arrested.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) chief justice, Aamer Farooq, declared that PTI's protest was unlawful as it was being held without formal permission. The court directed the government to maintain law and order in Islamabad, noting that the Belarusian president's upcoming visit with a high-profile delegation added to the need for heightened security.
Major motorways in Northern Pakistan, including Peshawar to Islamabad and Lahore to Islamabad routes, were closed to the public starting on the night of November 22, officially citing maintenance work, though reports linked the closure to anticipated PTI protests. It resulted in the closure of intercity bus operations to several cities in Punjab that were primarily serviced by these controlled-access highways. Pakistan Railways suspended all 25 trains scheduled to run between Peshawar, Rawalpindi, and Lahore on the day of the protest, citing safety concerns due to PTI protests. The suspension of services was a precautionary measure in response to the law and order situation caused by the protests, with a significant police presence deployed at the stations to ensure security. Additionally, the railway stations in these cities were sealed, and access to platforms was restricted to maintain order. The metro services were also suspended in Lahore and Islamabad on the day of the protest.
Internet restrictions.
Mobile internet and access to messaging services such as WhatsApp were blocked in areas of Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to security concerns ahead of the protest. The government aimed to control potential unrest and prevent the spread of misinformation during the demonstrations. According to the interior ministry, mobile data and Wi-Fi services were suspended only in specific areas where security concerns existed, while services continued to operate normally in other parts of the country. Additionally, WhatsApp's reachability was restricted, but it was still accessible on 50% of servers connected to Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited, indicating that the disruption was partial and not complete.
Warnings of terrorist attack.
The National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) has issued a warning ahead of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) "do or die" protest scheduled for November 24. According to the advisory released on Saturday, the group known as "Fitna al-Khawarij," or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), may launch terror attacks in major cities on the protest day. NACTA also reported intelligence suggesting terrorists have entered Pakistan from Afghanistan.
Timeline.
PTI protest.
Imran Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi took a leading role in the protest, arriving in Islamabad with thousands of PTI supporters who overcame security barriers to call for Khan's release. She spoke to the crowd near D-Chowk, a key area near parliament, urging that the protest be held there. Sources indicate that this move differed from previous instructions from Khan, which had advised assembling on the outskirts of the city.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf initiated the protest on 24 November 2024 through several convoys across the country heading for D-Chowk by road. The largest and main convoy, led by Ali Amin Gandapur, left from Peshawar. The convoy also included PTI lawmaker Shahid Ahmed Khattak. The convoy moved through Swabi, the Hazara region, and faced police obstacles and barriers along its route, reaching the Hakkla Interchange before proceeding towards Islamabad. Security forces, including police and Rangers, were deployed along key points to manage the situation, and public criticism grew over disruptions caused by the march, including school closures and travel restrictions. PTI spokesman Sheikh Waqas Akram claimed the number of people to be 70,000 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone.
The procession reached Islamabad on November 25 after crossing all hurdles, as security personnel attempted to contain the crowd using rubber bullets and tear gas. The protestors reached the Zero Point Interchange area of Islamabad during the afternoon of November 26, with the situation escalating amid ongoing clashes. There was significant resistance as police and security forces attempted to contain the advancing convoy. Bushra Bibi, leading the PTI group, had firmly instructed party workers to continue towards D-Chowk for the sit-in, despite the government's offer of an alternative location and the deployment of military personnel around the Red Zone.
The falling man.
During the day of November 26, Pakistan's security forces were accused of pushing a man off a stack of cargo containers while protests were ongoing in the capital. Video footage showed officers carrying riot shields with markings indicating they were affiliated with the Pakistan Rangers, standing besides the man as he knelt in prayer with his hands raised in supplication. Soon, another of the personnel in a similar uniform approached him and immediately pushed him over the edge of the containers. The video shows the man trying to cling on as the officer who had pushed him pries his hands off and he falls. The video ends with protestors chanting loudly and pelting stones at the security personnel who are running away. The footage went viral on social media and drew considerable criticism from the public. There is uncertainty regarding the fate of the man, but the government later claimed that the individual was alive, but injured, and was filming a video for TikTok instead of being engaged in prayer during the incident.
Vehicle incident.
At least four personnel of Pakistan Rangers and one civilian were killed when a car struck them at a checkpoint in Islamabad on the night of 26 November. The government claimed it was a targeted attack, meanwhile PTI leader, Zulfi Bukhari, denied the claim stating that "...there are videos viral on social media of protesters protecting and hugging rangers. This is a narrative the government is trying to create so they have the licence to kill." Soon after the incident, interior minister Naqvi, warned of use of live fire on protestors, alleging that the protestors had fired on security personnel using live weapons. Azaz Syed, a senior journalist, later claimed that the car that caused the accident was not driven by a PTI-affiliated individual but by the grandson of a former federal secretary who has been struggling with mental health issues.
Government crackdown.
During midnight of November 26-27, the Government of Pakistan, Pakistan Police, Pakistan Army and Pakistan Rangers initiated a crackdown on the protests. The Pakistan Army was deployed under Article 245 with orders of shoot-on-sight for the protesters. Heavy tear gas shelling was initially fired at protesters prior to reaching Islamabad. "The Guardian" reported that the government had been criticized for a “draconian response”. The government arrested 1,000 protesters. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif labelled the protesters as “bloodthirsty”, further saying that it is not a peaceful protest, it is "extremism".
Official sources told "The Guardian" there had been 17 civilian deaths from army and paramilitary gunfire and hundreds more had been injured. Doctors at hospitals in Islamabad said they had received multiple patients with gunshot wounds. The Guardian reported that they witnessed at least five patients with bullet wounds in one hospital, which was surrounded by police. A doctor in an emergency ward said he had treated more than 40 injured patients, several of whom had been shot. "At least seven have died and four are in critical condition in the hospital". Drop Site News stated that "harrowing images have already begun circulating