The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) convoy, led by Bushra Bibi, the wife of Imran Khan, is approaching Islamabad's Zero Point, which has been taken under the control of Pakistan Army soldiers. The Ministry of Interior earlier during the day had announced the deployment of the Pakistan Army under Article 245 of the Constitution in response to escalating security concerns in Islamabad—PTI protestors reach Islamabad’s D-Chowk amid tense clashes, The Express Tribune, November 26, 2024.

“Amnesty calls for a prompt, thorough, impartial, effective and transparent investigation into the deaths and injuries of protesters, as well as the unlawful use of force including lethal and less-lethal weapons by security personnel….Since yesterday, multiple clashes between protesters and law-enforcement agencies have taken place after military forces were called into the capital invoking provisions relating to “external aggression or threat of war” in the Pakistan constitution. Reports suggest the unlawful use of tear gas and shoot-on-sight orders against the protesters. The exact number of deaths and injuries is unknown due to the Government’s clampdown on information. However, this morning the BBC reported the deaths of at least six people, including four security officers—Pakistan: ‘brutal and lethal’ crackdown on Imran Khan supporters condemned, Amnesty International, UK.

The unprecedented and perpetual state repression, cases of missing persons, raids, arrests, and direct firing on political workers, the specter of terrorism, militarism and extremism, politics of revenge, resort to violence, open mockery of the rule of law, cronyism, nepotism, abuse of public money, and state patronisation of corrupt practices by successive rulers defy all norms of constitutional democracy in Pakistan. These highly undesirable and detestable practices, unfortunately, not confined to any particular political party, whether in power or opposition, create doubt about the very essence of what we call “democracy” in “The Islamic” Republic of Pakistan”. In theory, Pakistan is a constitutional democracy with a written constitution, but in practice, it is an embodiment of authoritarianism, state brutality, and kleptocracy.

Our painful history of dictatorial military regimes and autocratic civilian rules, coupled with corruption and bad governance, has crippled the state during the last seven decades: favouratism, mediocrity, and authoritarianism rule supreme in our political culture and governance. Hence, if Imran Khan during his term as premier [2018-2022] acted like a kleptocrat, the attitude of Shahbaz Sharif and other heads of parties, when in power, has been no different.

The mayhem that took place at Islamabad’s D-Chowk on November 26, 2024, was reported by Reuters as: “Pakistan’s security forces launched a sweeping midnight raid on supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan who had stormed the capital demanding his release on Tuesday, local media said, with hundreds arrested amidst chaotic scenes”.

According to various media reports, the government called military under Article 245 of the Constitution and notification to this effect also granted “the army, powers to impose curfew in any area to maintain law and order. Security forces have been given clear instructions to shoot anyone spreading chaos on the spot”.

The shoot-on-sight orders were perturbing for all having respect for human rights that include the right for “peaceful demonstrations”. However, the government justified the same claiming: “Orders........

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