Thousands attend memorial for protesters in Pakistan

KARACHI, Pakistan

Thousands in northwestern Pakistan gathered on Sunday in a memorial ceremony for party workers reportedly killed during a protest late last month.

"We will not be cowed down by coercion," said Ali Amin Gandapur, chief minister of Khyber Phaktunkhwa province, which includes the city of Peshawar where the memorial took place.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), founded by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, alleges that at least 12 party workers were killed in a crackdown by security forces during a march toward the capital Islamabad to demand Khan's release and protest what it called the rigging of general elections held on Feb. 8.

Refuting the claim, the government accused the PTI protesters of killing at least four security personnel and injuring dozens others, allegations that the party denies.

"We will continue our struggle for democracy and rule of law," Gandapur said in the PTI-governed province, warning that "whoever ordered firing on peaceful protesters will be held accountable sooner or later."

Khan, who has been facing a litany of cases since he was removed from power in a no-confidence vote in Parliament in 2022, was named a suspect in the killing of three paramilitary troops ran over by a vehicle during the protest.

The 72-year former cricket star is currently being held in a prison in the northeastern garrison city of Rawalpindi.