The alleged death of a PTI worker by police torture has raised a storm in Pakistan. The death of the PTI worker has also sparked concern even from the United Nations as Wednesday’s chaotic scenes from PTI rally in Lahore made international headlines.
During the PTI rally, a PTI worker Ali Bilal lost his life when police and the PTI supporters clashed violently. The police had resorted to using force against PTI workers for violating Section 144 which was imposed earlier in the day.
Farhan Haq, the vice spokesperson for UN Chief Antonio Guetress, in his statement said the matter of the killing of a PTI worker in alleged police torture should be investigated.
Read more: Chaotic scenes in Lahore as police use force against PTI workers
People enjoy the right to peaceful protest in the world, and those who attacked the participants should be made accountable, the statement said. The UN chief in his statement urged for restraint to defuse the situation.
We are heartbroken & outraged that PTI political worker Ali Bilal (Zille Shah), a person with disability, was murdered by the state in Lahore yesterday. He was only exercising his right to peaceful assembly (which he often turned festive) & 🗣 protest! #StopThisFascism pic.twitter.com/3AutOvTW32
— Aurat March – عورت مارچ (@AuratMarchKHI) March 8, 2023
The PTI rally was marked with incidents of violence as the Lahore police used water cannons on the PTI workers and also smashed their cars’ mirrors. Several PTI workers were injured by the teargas shelling.
As per senior PTI leader Farrukh Habib, Ali Bilal was hit by a teargas shell fired by the police officials and he was subjected to brutal torture.
The killing of Ali Bilal has caused intense fury among PTI and also the public. Condemnations are being echoed on social media as netizens criticize the incumbent government.
Hello @UNWatch ,
An innocent citizen of Pakistan, named Ali Bilal, was murdered under Punjab Police Custody today!
He was "peacefully" protesting against potential State oppression against Former PM Imran Khan, when he was arrested & a few hours later, we found his dead body!
— Maleeha Hashmey (@MaleehaHashmey) March 8, 2023
On the other hand, the Punjab IG police has set up a fact-finding committee to launch a probe into the causes of the death of PTI worker Ali Bilal and the damage done during the PTI rally on March 8.
A 2-member committee comprising DIG Sadiq Dogar and SSP Imran Kishwar has been directed to submit its report within three days. It would ascertain in what circumstances, PTI worker Bilal died.
Read more: Ban on public rallies in Lahore ahead of PTI rally, Aurat March