The D-Chowk Dharna was a series of protests held at D-Chowk in Islamabad, Pakistan, organized by the Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, A senior politician in Jamaat-e-Islami and former senator of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan The protests were held in response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, with participants demanding decisive action from the Pakistani government and the international community.
On the 27th day of the sit-in to express love for Palestine and Gaza, D-Chowk was renamed Gaza Chowk. It was appealed to the public that now D-Chowk will be written, said and called Gaza Chowk. The board of Gaza Chowk was unveiled.
Major incidents.
Car incident.
On May 21, 2024, an incident occurred during a protest where a speeding car ran over participants of the protest who were sleeping on a portion of Jinnah Avenue, resulting in two deaths and four injuries, including a police inspector. The driver, identified as a lieutenant in the Pakistan Army and son of a brigadier, was later arrested and handed over to the Military Police for legal proceedings.
Clashes with Police.
Protesters clashed with the police on several occasions. In one instance, protesters attempted to enter Islamabad's red zone, leading to clashes with police. The police lathi-charged the protestors as a result of which some protestors were injured. In response, the protesters pelted stones at the police.
Response from authorities.
The Islamabad Police booked over 350 protesters, including former Jamaat-i-Islami senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, on several charges. The allegations included pelting stones at law enforcement officials and threatening them with dire consequences. Despite these actions, protesters continued their demonstrations, staged sit-ins and announced plans for future protests.
Public response and further actions.
The protests gained public attention and support. Various groups including the Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) joined the protests. Protesters organized a hike in Islamabad to demand concrete steps for a ceasefire in Gaza and the establishment of a humanitarian aid corridor. The protesters also demanded Pakistan to take decisive action for immediate international intervention and increase pressure for an immediate ceasefire.
Demands by Save Gaza Campaign.
In a joint video released on Saturday night, Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, assured that the following demands from the Save Gaza Campaign would be met soon.
References.
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