Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Islamabad Hospitals Prepare for Mass Casualty Incident Before PTI Protest
Pakistan’s government told hospitals in Islamabad to get ready for a possible emergency.
The warning came before a protest by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or PTI, on September 27.
Hospitals were asked to delay planned surgeries.
Doctors, nurses, and support workers were told not to take leave.
Some workers who were already away were asked to return.
This has caused some patients’ operations to be postponed.
Officials used the words “humanitarian crisis” and “mass casualty incident” in their instructions.
However, the government has not publicly said that the hospital preparations are specifically connected to a crackdown on protesters.
Pakistan directed Islamabad hospitals to prepare for a possible “mass casualty incident” and “humanitarian crisis” ahead of the September 27 PTI protest.
Hospitals were told to postpone elective surgeries indefinitely and keep surgical departments ready for a potential increase in patients.
Medical and support staff leave was suspended, while staff already on leave were asked to return.
Some patients reportedly had surgeries scheduled for Monday postponed because of the preparations.
The government has not officially confirmed that the hospital measures are directly linked to a crackdown on protesters, while PTI members and Imran Khan’s sisters were detained ahead of the protest.
- Who
- Pakistan’s government, Islamabad hospitals, medical staff, PTI, and members of Imran Khan’s family are involved.
- What
- Hospitals were ordered to prepare for a possible mass-casualty incident, while PTI members and family members of Imran Khan were detained ahead of a planned protest.
- When
- The preparations were ordered ahead of the PTI protest scheduled for September 27; some surgeries scheduled for Monday were postponed.
- Where
- Islamabad, Pakistan; related detentions also occurred in Lahore.
- Why
- The government cited preparations for a possible “humanitarian crisis” and “mass casualty incident,” but it has not publicly confirmed that the measures are specifically linked to a protest crackdown.
Official Position
Context-Based Concern
Reason for hospital preparations
Official Position
The government has not publicly confirmed that the hospital directives are specifically connected to a crackdown on PTI protesters.
Context-Based Concern
The timing, the references to a possible “humanitarian crisis” and “mass casualty incident,” and arrests ahead of the protest have raised concerns that the measures are related to anticipated unrest.
Detentions before the protest
Official Position
Authorities detained members of Imran Khan’s family and PTI participants, including Aleema Khan under a 30-day Maintenance of Public Order detention order.
Context-Based Concern
The detentions, including those of Khan’s sisters and other PTI members, are viewed in the article’s context as part of heightened pressure on the party before its planned march.
- Planned protest
- Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf protest scheduled for September 27
- Hospital order
- Postpone all scheduled elective surgeries indefinitely
- Staff directive
- Suspend medical and support staff leave and recall staff already on leave
- Official wording
- Documents referred to a possible “humanitarian crisis” and “mass casualty incident”
- Patient impact
- Some surgeries scheduled for Monday were reportedly postponed
- Detentions
- Aleema Khan, Noreen Niazi, Dr Uzma Khan, and other PTI members were detained ahead of the protest
- Reported legal basis
- Aleema Khan was detained under Section 3 of Pakistan’s Maintenance of Public Order law for 30 days