ISLAMABAD: Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party on Wednesday sought permission to hold a political rally at the city’s Minar-e-Pakistan monument on Feb. 8, as it gears up for protests on the day to mark the anniversary of Pakistan’s controversial 2024 general election.
Khan last week called on his party’s leadership and supporters from all walks of life to mark Feb. 8 as a “Black Day” and hold protests across the country to protest alleged rigging in Pakistan’s general election last year.
The national polls on Feb. 8, 2024 were marred by a countrywide shutdown of cellphone networks and delayed results, leading to widespread allegations of election manipulation by the PTI and other opposition parties.
The caretaker government and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) deny the charges, saying mobile networks were shut down to maintain law and order across the country. The US House of Representatives, as well as European countries, have called on Islamabad to open a probe into the allegations — a move that Pakistan has thus far rejected.
“The PTI has decided to hold a political gathering on Feb. 8, 2025, in Lahore at Minar-e-Pakistan ground,” the party stated in its application to the Lahore deputy commissioner.
“For the purpose of same, the undersigned seeks a grant of no objection certificate/approval from your worthy office.”
The party said in its application that its supporters were “peaceful, law-abiding citizens” ready to cooperate with the Punjab government to ensure a “smooth and hassle-free” political gathering.
It further said the PTI had the right to assemble under Pakistan’s constitution, asserting that denying this right would violate a fundamental constitutional principle.
The party has held multiple rallies at the huge park surrounding the 70-meter tall monument in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore since 2011.
Political parties, including Khan’s PTI, have used the Minar-e-Pakistan ground to flex their political muscles by holding power shows at the venue.
The latest call for protests comes amid renewed tensions between Khan’s party and the government. following the PTI’s boycott of the latest round of reconciliatory talks with the government on Jan. 28. Khan’s party blames the government for talks breaking down, saying it did not release political prisoners and establish judicial commissions to investigate violent protests of May 9, 2023, and Nov. 26, 2024.
The government blames Khan’s party for walking away from the talks “unilaterally” before they had a chance to respond to the PTI’s demands.
Imran Khan’s party seeks permission for Feb. 8 rally at Lahore’s Minar-e-Pakistan
https://arab.news/rtvx7
Imran Khan’s party seeks permission for Feb. 8 rally at Lahore’s Minar-e-Pakistan
- Party says will mark Feb. 8 Pakistan election anniversary as “Black Day” with nationwide protests
- Says supporters are “peaceful” citizens ready to help Punjab ensure hassle-free political gathering
Pakistan saw 73% increase in combat-related deaths in 2025— think tank
- Pakistan reported 3,387 deaths thus year, among them 2,115 militants and 664 security forces personnel, says think tank
- Civilian deaths increased by 24% to 580 in 2025, compared to 468 in 2024, as Pakistan saw 1,063 militant attacks in 2025
ISLAMABAD: Combat-related deaths in Pakistan this year increased by 73%, with both security forces and militants suffering casualties in large numbers, a report published by an Islamabad-based think tank said on Sunday.
As per statistics released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), combat-related deaths in 2025 rose 73% to 3,387, compared with 1,950 in 2024. These deaths included 2,115 militants, 664 security forces personnel, 580 civilians and 28 members of pro-government peace committees (combatants), the think tank said in a press release.
“Militants accounted for about 62% of total combat-related deaths, and their 2,115 fatalities represented the highest annual militant death toll since 2015, when 2,322 militants were killed,” PICSS said.
Compared to last year, militant deaths recorded a steep increase by 122% as the PICSS reported that 951 militants had been killed in 2024.
The think tank, however, said this year was also particularly bloody for Pakistani security forces. PICSS recorded 664 security personnel deaths in 2025, a 26% rise from 528 in 2024, and the highest annual figure since 2011, when 677 security forces personnel lost their lives.
Civilian deaths also increased by 24% to 580 in 2025, compared with 468 in 2024, marking the highest annual civilian toll since 2015, when 642 civilians were killed.
As per the PICSS report, at least 1,063 militant attacks took place in 2025, a 17% increase compared with 908 in 2024 and the highest annual total since 2014, when 1,609 militant attacks were recorded.
The report also noted a 53 percent increase in suicide attacks this year, with 26 such incidents reported in 2025 compared with 17 in 2024.
“PICSS noted an expanding trend in the use of small drones, including quadcopters, with 33 such incidents recorded during 2025, alongside increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles by security forces,” the report said.
The report noted an 83% rise in arrests of suspected militants, with 497 arrested in 2025 compared to 272 in 2024.
This 2025 figure is the highest annual total of suspected militants arrested since 2017, when 1,781 militants were either arrested or laid down their weapons.
“PICSS noted that most violence remained concentrated in Pashtun-majority districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the tribal districts (erstwhile FATA), and in Balochistan,” it said.
Pakistan has been grappling with a surge in militant attacks in its western provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, both bordering Afghanistan, this year.
Islamabad blames Afghanistan for providing sanctuaries to militants it alleges use Afghan soil to carry out attacks against Pakistan. Kabul denies the charges.
