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LAHORE: Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has urged Pakistan’s Supreme Court (SC) to start a probe into the May 9 violence.
Addressing party workers and supporters, PTI chief encouraged people to leave their houses and meet at a location in their area from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. tomorrow (Sunday) with a sign reading “Save Constitution, Save Country.”
PTI president stated that he was stopped by police for leaving the Islamabad High Court (IHC) grounds despite the fact that the court has granted bail in many cases. “The police wanted to arrest me outside the courtroom for MPO [Maintenance of Public Order],” he claimed.
“The country’s democracy is hanging by a thread,” Imran Khan stated, crediting the judiciary with “saving democracy.” He asked Pakistanis to support the judiciary, claiming that the mafia was threatening and attacking the courts.
He went on to say that “the mafia was attacking the judiciary” because it was the only thing standing in the way of their “corruption.”
Khan emphasized that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif had ordered an attack on the Supreme Court (SC) and had thrown out the then-Chairman of the SC. “In the past, Nawaz Sharif destroyed the independent judiciary in order to gain power,” he claimed.
He stated that the country’s freedom ends when the independent judiciary is undermined, adding that the latter safeguards citizens’ fundamental rights. “The only reason Pakistan has not progressed is because there is no rule of law,” he continues.
Imran Khan went on to add that the 145 cases filed against him are “bogus,” and he thanked the higher judiciary for “saving him” from being imprisoned in bogus cases.
‘PTI a nonviolent party’
During his speech, PTI chairman emphasized that his followers had always remained peaceful throughout their 27-year battle. He said he would never forget May 25, when the state turned on PTI supporters and campaigners.
The former premier claimed that the police officers told him that they were given orders “from above.” He also stated that he wished to avoid bloodshed, which is why he called off the sit-in in Islamabad following the May 25 state brutality.
He recalled that if they had pushed violence after his imprisonment, it would have happened after the murder attempt on him last year in Wazirabad. “Those who want to have elections would never want anarchy,” he added.
When he travelled to Islamabad for a court appearance, the police began an attack on his house in Lahore. “The same day, another assassination attempt at the Islamabad Judicial Complex was foiled,” he said.
Khan characterized his party as ‘peaceful,’ stating that PTI is the only political party in the country where families, including children, attend public events, and questioned why they would desire anarchy in the country.
He claimed that individuals who caused violence during PTI protests were not “their people,” and that they were the ones who instigated violence. “More than 3,500 PTI workers have been imprisoned across the country, and many have been killed,” he claims.
PTI chief has once again criticized his arrest from the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Case of the Al-Qadir Trust
In defending himself, Imran Khan stated that the goal of establishing Al-Qadir University was to generate leaders for the country who were well-versed in Islamic beliefs.
He stated that the decision to establish the institution was made in November and that the groundbreaking ceremony took place in May, during his tenure as president.
The former prime minister maintained that he had no personal gain from the Al-Qadir Trust. He stated that a trustee receives no monetary compensation.
Slavery must be abolished.
PTI chairman asked Pakistanis not to “bow to this slavery.” He stated that he would begin a series of public gatherings in Muridke on Wednesday.
He also advised people to leave their houses and meet at a location in their area from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. tomorrow (Sunday) with a sign reading “Save Constitution, Save Country.”
Imran Khan’s detention
On Tuesday, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
Rangers’ officers acting on a warrant issued by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) apprehended PTI head from the premises of Islamabad High Court, where the former premier had gone to seek bail in various charges filed against him.
A day earlier, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) prevented police from detaining PTI Chairman Imran Khan in all cases recorded across the country, including those that were not publicized, until Monday (May 15).
The court also awarded PTI chief protective protection in three terrorist cases filed against him in Lahore and barred police from detaining him in any case filed in Islamabad after May 9.
Imran was also granted protective bail in a case involving the death of Zille Shah, a PTI worker who was killed during a party rally in Lahore earlier this year, for 10 days against surety bonds of Rs50,000.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted former Prime Minister Imran Khan protective bail in the Al-Qadir Trust case, a day after the Supreme Court determined his incarceration was “illegal.”
