On the 27th day of the sit-in to express love for Palestine and Gaza, D-Chowk was renamed Gaza Chowk. It was appealed to the public that now D-Chowk will be written, said and called Gaza Chowk. The board of Gaza Chowk was unveiled.[10]
Major incidents
Car incident
On May 21, 2024, an incident occurred during a protest where a speeding car ran over participants of the protest who were sleeping on a portion of Jinnah Avenue, resulting in two deaths and four injuries, including a police inspector.[11][12] The driver, identified as a lieutenant in the Pakistan Army and son of a brigadier, was later arrested and handed over to the Military Police for legal proceedings.[13][14][15]
Clashes with Police
Protesters clashed with the police on several occasions. In one instance, protesters attempted to enter Islamabad's red zone, leading to clashes with police. The police lathi-charged the protestors as a result of which some protestors were injured. In response, the protesters pelted stones at the police.[9]
Response from authorities
The Islamabad Police booked over 350 protesters, including former Jamaat-i-Islami senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, on several charges. The allegations included pelting stones at law enforcement officials and threatening them with dire consequences.[3] Despite these actions, protesters continued their demonstrations, staged sit-ins and announced plans for future protests.[4][9]
Public response and further actions
The protests gained public attention and support. Various groups including the Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) joined the protests.[16] Protesters organized a hike in Islamabad to demand concrete steps for a ceasefire in Gaza and the establishment of a humanitarian aid corridor.[8] The protesters also demanded Pakistan to take decisive action for immediate international intervention and increase pressure for an immediate ceasefire.[7]
Relief Fleet: The Government of Pakistan must ensure the entry of a relief flotilla into the Gaza through sea route, with assistance from the Save Gaza Campaign.
ICJ Involvement: Pakistan should join South Africa in taking action at the ICJ regarding matters related to Gaza.
Justice and Compensation: Justice should be provided for those martyred during a sit-in, and the families of the martyrs must receive compensation from the government.
Role in Ceasefire: The Government of Pakistan should actively work towards a ceasefire in Palestine and advocate for a ceasefire resolution in the United Nations Security Council.
In a joint video released on Saturday night, Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, assured that the following demands from the Save Gaza Campaign would be met soon.[17]
