The parliamentary leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the Sindh Assembly, Mohammad Shabir Qureshi, along with other PTI MPAs, has submitted a resolution in the provincial legislature expressing concern over the tragic loss of lives during a recent protest at the US consulate in Karachi.
Submitting the resolution at the Sindh Assembly, PTI MPAs said protests erupted following the attack on Iran and the reported martyrdom of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, which triggered strong public emotions.
According to the resolution, despite clear indications of public anger and the possibility of large-scale protests, the Sindh government and Sindh police failed to take timely and effective measures to manage the situation and ensure the protection of sensitive diplomatic installations in Karachi.
The resolution noted that the situation escalated when, according to reports, security personnel inside the US consulate, including staff and US marines responsible for internal security, opened fire on protesters. The reported firing resulted in the deaths of approximately 14 individuals and left several others injured.
The PTI lawmakers stated that the alleged use of excessive force against unarmed Pakistani citizens required a clear explanation. The resolution also stated that the failure of the Sindh government and police to prevent the protesters from reaching the diplomatic compound reflected a serious security lapse.
It further pointed out that adequate crowd-control measures, intelligence coordination and preventive arrangements were not properly implemented despite the volatile circumstances. The resolution demanded immediate constitution of an independent and transparent judicial inquiry to investigate the entire incident.
The proposed inquiry should determine why the Sindh government and police failed to control the protests and prevent the demonstrators from approaching the US consulate despite clear warnings and indications of public anger.
It should also examine whether adequate security planning and coordination had been carried out in advance and determine the exact circumstances under which live fire was opened from within the consulate premises.
The PTI lawmakers also demanded that those responsible for security negligence, mismanagement or failure of duty within the Sindh government and police be held accountable. Furthermore, the resolution calls upon the provincial government to present a comprehensive report before the Sindh Assembly detailing the security arrangements, sequence of events including the firing from within the consulate premises, and the actions taken after the incident.
The resolution also emphasises that peaceful protest is a constitutional and democratic right of citizens, and it is the responsibility of the provincial government and law enforcement agencies to manage such situations responsibly so that no loss of life occurs due to administrative failure or poor security management. The resolution was submitted by Qureshi and signed by PTI MPAs Rehan Bandukda, Bilal Jadoon and Sajjad Ali Soomro.
