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A video of the incident, which has gone viral, shows the man allegedly offering namaz when security forces pushed him off the shipping container
The footage also shows the man trying to hold on to the container before falling. (Screengrab via X)
Pakistan’s security forces have been accused of brutality after a man was allegedly pushed off a stack of cargo containers during protests in Islamabad calling for the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
A video of the incident, which has gone viral, shows the man allegedly offering namaz when security forces, said to be from the Pakistani Rangers, pushed him off the shipping container. The footage also shows the man trying to hold on to the container before falling.
According to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan’s main opposition party and the party of the currently imprisoned Imran Khan, the man was praying on top of a container when armed officers approached him.
PTI claims the officers “brutally pushed him off from a height equivalent to three storeys.” The man’s condition remains unknown, reported the BBC.
The publication confirmed that the incident took place on Tuesday at the corner of Jinnah and Attaturk avenues in the country’s capital, which was a focal point of the protests.
The incident highlights one of several examples of police brutality alleged by Khan’s supporters. The protests, which began on Sunday, saw violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces, resulting in the deaths of at least six people – four security officers and two civilians.
The protests have been sparked by calls for the release of Khan, who was ousted from office in 2022 following a vote of no confidence. Khan, once a cricketing legend, has accused Pakistan’s military of interfering in politics, and his party, PTI, has organised multiple demonstrations demanding his freedom.
On Tuesday, thousands of Khan’s supporters marched on central Islamabad, vowing to stay until the former leader was freed. However, the government has cracked down on the protests, with nearly 1,000 arrests made and several deaths reported in clashes.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government has defended its actions, describing the protests as acts of “anarchy and terrorism”.
“When political parties or their leaders come into conflict with the establishment they are subject to the wrath of the state,” political scientist and television anchor Arifa Noor told news agency AFP, adding the current crackdown “may be more aggressive”.
The military, which has ruled the country for nearly half its history since independence in 1947, has repeatedly said it no longer interferes in politics.
(With inputs from agencies)
