Supreme Court of Pakistan rejects request to investigate protest-related deaths

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has rejected a request to take suo motu notice of deaths during a protest by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. The plea was made by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's additional advocate general during a hearing on a separate case. Government officials reported that at least three Rangers and two police personnel died in the protest, while PTI claims eight of its members were killed. The court stated it cannot address matters not formally presented. Following a crackdown by law enforcement, PTI announced a temporary suspension of its protest. Government officials criticized the protest's outcome, describing it as chaotic and a failure.