Rana Sanaullah says official death toll in D-Chowk protest lower than claimed

His comments contrast with information and interior ministers, who denied PTI's claims of mass fatalities

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, challenged the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party's claims regarding the number of deaths during the violent protests in Islamabad, stating that the "official number" of PTI workers killed during the unrest does not reach double digits. 

Speaking during an interview on a local news channel on Thursday, Sanaullah explained that the official count of fatalities was around four to five, with three bodies confirmed through funerals.

While acknowledging the possibility of two or three more deaths, he firmly rejected PTI's exaggerated reports, which had suggested a much higher toll.

"We have confirmed reports of three deaths, with funerals held," he said. "There may be two or three more, but definitely not in double figures. The numbers being quoted by PTI are exaggerated," he added.

The protests, which began as a series of confrontations between PTI demonstrators and security forces in Islamabad, escalated over three days, culminating in the retreat of the party’s leadership and supporters from the capital's Red Zone early Wednesday morning.

Official sources and hospital reports confirmed that at least six individuals lost their lives during the protests, including a police officer and three Rangers personnel, who were reportedly struck by a speeding vehicle.

The conflicting reports on the number of casualties have become a significant point of contention between the government and PTI. Sanaullah criticised PTI's portrayal of events, accusing the party of using the deaths to fuel a propaganda campaign against the government.

"PTI's leaders are spreading false perceptions. The situation did not escalate to the point where there were 20, 100, or 200 deaths, as they claim," he said. "There may have been some casualties, but the numbers being presented are simply not accurate. This is PTI’s propaganda," he added. 

Sanaullah also pointed out that around 15,000 to 20,000 PTI protesters were reportedly brought in from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, further adding to the chaos and making the crackdown operation more difficult.

Despite this, he maintained that there was no violent confrontation that would have led to the mass casualties suggested by PTI.

The interior minister of Punjab, who described the PTI protest as poorly planned, noted that without the crackdown, the demonstrators would likely have stayed at the protest venue for several days.

However, he questioned what the protesters hoped to achieve after reaching D-Chowk, as no clear strategy or plan seemed to be in place.

Sanaullah’s statements diverge from the government’s earlier narrative, with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi both denying the PTI's claims of mass fatalities. 

Tarar had previously stated that major hospitals in Islamabad, such as the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and Polyclinic, had not received any gunshot victims or bodies linked to the protests. 

He also dismissed a list circulating on social media alleging the death of several protesters as fake. "There is no concrete evidence to support PTI’s claims," he said, adding, "The hospitals have denied receiving any such casualties."

The lack of official casualty lists has fueled further uncertainty, with much of the information circulating through social media and anonymous sources. This has left many questioning the accuracy of the reported death toll and the extent of the violence that occurred during the protests.