Tragedy in Islamabad: Car Plows Through Pro-Palestine Protesters, Killing 2
Islamabad police reported driver and his vehicle have been taken into custody, legal proceedings underway
A car plowed through a pro-Palestine protest encampment near Pakistan's parliament on Monday, killing at least two demonstrators, police said.
Demonstrators, including women and children, gathered in the capital city Islamabad. They waved tri-color Palestinian flags and wore armbands and headbands with the slogan "Labbaik ya Gaza" (Aqsa, we are here) emblazoned on them.
The incident happened late Sunday night when a man drove his car into a camp set up by the "Save the Gaza movement," a civil society campaign protesting Israel's assault on Palestinians in Gaza. After injuring several people, the driver sped away.
One of the injured died at the scene, and another succumbed to his injuries on Monday, igniting anger and triggering more protests.
Islamabad police reported that the driver and his vehicle have been taken into custody, and legal proceedings are underway.
Organizers stated that over 100,000 people attended the rally, while security officials estimated the figure to be closer to 50,000.
Signs and banners waved by protesters featured slogans like "Palestine will be free," "Down with Israel," and "Stop genocide against Palestinians."
Thousands chanted in unison, "Labbaik, Labbaik, Labbaik ya Gaza" (Gaza, we are here), as members of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), the country's mainstream religio-political party, donned keffiyeh scarves. Other leaders formed a human chain to express solidarity with Palestinians.
Dozens of JI supporters protested outside the office of Islamabad's police chief, calling the incident a "planned act." The deceased are reported to be JI activists.
On Monday, a funeral for one of the deceased took place outside the encampment. Later in the evening, the JI announced additional protests.
Led by former Senator and JI leader Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, dozens of protesters have set up a camp near the parliament building to oppose Israel's offensive on Gaza. The conflict has resulted in 35,400 deaths and nearly 80,000 injuries since October 7 of last year.
Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war, pro-Palestinian protests have surged throughout Pakistan. Large demonstrations, organized by Islamist parties and civil society, have attracted support from various political factions.
