Consent Requested from Attorney General to Prosecute Pakistani General Asim Munir who is London for the Islamabad Massacre of Protestors
After learning the General Asim Munir is in the United Kingdom on the afternoon of Thursday 20 February 2025, Michael Polak has formally written to the Attorney General for England and Wales to request consent to prosecute General Munir for torture and crimes against humanity in relation to the Islamabad Massacre carried out against protestors on 25 and 26 November 2024.
On these dates, a mass peaceful protest travelled from all around Pakistan towards the Federal Parliament in Islamabad to protest about the state of democracy in Pakistan. When they got closer to the centre of Islamabad witnesses reported being fired upon by live rounds and that a large number of protesters suffered injuries, with many fatalities.
The attacks on protestors are alleged to have followed Pakistani Interior Minister Mr Mohsin Naqvi public statement in a press conference that “[Army] Rangers have to to open fire for 5 minutes and after that there wont be anyone visible there”. Following the massacre, the Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr Shabaz Sharif stated in another press conference on 27 November 2024 that “This is the first time in the history of Pakistan that the Chief of Army Staff [General Munir] has joined us as heart and soul, we could not have done this without him”. In the same conference PM Sharif then states that “all our law enforcement agencies worked in strong collaboration and carried out a good strategy to eliminate the protestors.” General Munir is in command of the Rangers.
A number of videos and pictures are available in relation to the results of the massacre. Some journalists who took pictures in hospital were later subject to arrest and detention. General Munir is recently reported to have stated in an address to students that anyone who stands up against the government “should be punished by chopping their hands and legs”.
The request to the Attorney General requests consent to privately prosecute Mr Munir for torture, an offence under English law according to s134 Criminal Justice Act 1988 and Crimes against Humanity under the International Criminal Court Act 2001. The case has also been referred to SO15 the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command (SO15) which investigates war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and torture.
Barrister Michael Polak stated the following:
“There is a lot of evidence in relation to the alleged crimes that took place during the Islamabad Massacre where live rounds were used against protestors. This evidence establishes a prima facie case for General Munir’s criminal responsibility for torture and crimes against humanity which are offences under English law.
“We have made an urgent request to the Attorney General for his consent to privately prosecute, given that General Munir is currently in the United Kingdom, as well as referring the matter to the Metropolitan Police’s specialist team.
“The evidence should be considered objectively by the Courts and all of General Munir’s fair trial rights will be protected.”
Michael Polak’s previous work on Pakistan includes chairing an Inquiry into the conditions for free and fair elections in Pakistan.
